The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the susceptibility of minks to coronavirus, making them dangerous to humans. This was stated by WHO spokesman Catherine Smallwood, commenting on similar cases of infection in Denmark, during a broadcast on Facebook.
According to him, minks are quite capable of carrying infection. In this regard, there is a risk that the mink population may somehow contribute to the transmission of the virus from mink to humans, and then from humans to humans, the organization's representative warned.
“The Danish authorities quickly began to take various actions, including the destruction of the large, in fact the entire population of mink in Denmark. This decision will of course affect many Danes, because this is a large sector of the economy, ”added Smallwood.
On November 5, Denmark decided to destroy all minks on fur farms to prevent the spread of the mutated coronavirus. These animals have been found to have an infection that spreads to humans and weakens the ability to form antibodies. There are currently 12 registered people with this virus. The country's authorities fear that a new mutation of the coronavirus could spread not only throughout the country, but also around the world.
The coronavirus has spread to 1,139 mink farms in Denmark, particularly in North Jutland. The total number of cases of coronavirus infection in the country has exceeded 50 thousand.
Previously, scientists have named animals that can become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and be its carriers. Many mammals examined have the potential to become infected, including domestic cats, dogs, minks, lions, tigers, and ferrets and macaques.
