Mink captured outside Oregon is SARS-CoV-2 positive

KOIN, Oregon — Mink caught off-farm under quarantine due to a recent outbreak of coronavirus has been tested positive for the virus. Officials say he escaped from captivity on the farm.

Oregon Department of Agriculture Said Among animals captured during wildlife surveillance near a recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak mink farm, mink, which appears to have recently escaped confinement, is known to cause COVID-19 in humans. Tested positive for low levels of virus.

ODA issued a statement Wednesday, confirming that recent tests have cleared the virus from farm mink tested positive for the virus in late November. The department conducted two rounds of follow-up tests at 14-day intervals to record animal recovery. The first follow-up test was conducted on December 7, and only one of the 62 tested animals was positive with almost undetectable levels of the virus. According to ODA, a second round of testing on December 21 showed no signs of the virus in all 62 tested, indicating that the farm mink population had recovered. Following the guidance of the USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, another round of testing will be conducted prior to the release of the quarantine.

Under the guidance of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, USDA Wildlife Service scientists continue to monitor wildlife near farms with animal capture and testing. According to ODA, nine animals have been captured and tested by biologists since December 7. Of these, five wild possums and three cats were virus-negative, but one mink, which appears to have escaped the quarantine facility, was positive.

On Tuesday, the USDA National Institute of Veterinary Services (NVSL) confirmed that the captured mink captured on December 13 was tested positive for low levels of SARS-CoV-2. USDA Wildlife Services and ODFW believe that captured mink has most recently escaped imprisonment based on animal condition, autopsy findings, and location of capture. As a precautionary measure, ODA requires continuous monitoring, trapping, and testing.

“There is no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is endemic or established in the wild,” said Dr. Ryan Schortz, a veterinarian in the ODA state. “Several animals from different species were sampled and all others were negative. Still, we take this situation very seriously and continue to investigate and trap near the farm. Asked USDA to perform additional tests on trapped mink, including sequence of viral genomes and DNA tests to know exactly where this mink came from. Will be. “

Arizona-based conservation group, Biodiversity Center, Released a statement on development:

Lorient Bird, CBD’s Director of Environmental Health, said: “We hope that this COVID-19 case will be limited to one mink tested in the wild, but the virus is highly contagious and one case will quickly infect many people. We know that. Thinking about how COVID-19 can destroy a wildlife population breaks my heart. Fur farms are public health and our amazing It poses a great threat to wildlife. When you can’t get far from the truth, you need to stop pretending to be in control of everything. When the only mink you tested in the wild is positive. It’s almost unreliable. It’s scary. “

In late November Authorities confirmed The farm was immediately quarantined after the first outbreak of the virus in mink on a fur farm in Oregon. This means that animals and animal products cannot leave the farm until further notice.

Authorities have not specified the location of the farm. One of the only seven active mink farms in Oregon..

Mink is believed to have been infected by the virus from humans, officials said. Being a small facility, disclosing personally identifiable information may reveal personal medical information, such as COVID-19 status. ODA believes that personal information should not be disclosed.

In Utah, wild mink living in infected farm areas Test positive Officials said last week’s SARS-CoV-2.

Denmark Kill all about 17 million minks Concerns about a mutant coronavirus found on a mink farm that can spread to humans.

U.S. authorities Say The risk of the virus migrating from mink to humans is low and can be almost ignored if properly managed.