Denmark to cull millions of minks following news of mutated form of COVID-19
Millions of minks will be culled as a preventive measure after a mutated version of COVID-19 was detected in minks and passed over to humans.
This will likely come as a huge blow to Denmark as the country is the world's biggest producer of mink fur.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made the revelation at a press conference yesterday, saying that the decision was a 'necessary' one.
She said that 'the mutation could pose a risk that future (coronavirus) vaccines won't work the way they should.'
'The mutated virus could thereby have serious negative consequences for the whole world’s response to the ongoing pandemic.'
PM Frederiksen added that COVID-19 has been detected at 207 Danish mink farms
Danish police have estimated that between 15 and 17 million minks would need to be put to sleep.
According to the news agency Ritzau, a total of 12 people were confirmed to have been infected with a mutated form of the virus.
However, it has been speculated that around nearly 400 human cases of COVID-19 could be linked to the infected minks.
The mutated virus is reported to respond weakly to antibodies.
This emergency measure would effectively halt the industry for a number of years, the PM admitted, as it produces an average of 12-13 million skins annually.
Danish armed forces and fire services will be involved in culling the animals, the PM confirmed.
The news about the culling follows after other EU countries such as Austria and Russia have reported a record rise in cases.
Conserve Ireland describes American minks as being 'highly adaptive animals and so are able to thrive in most habitat types in Ireland,' especially slow-moving freshwater bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds or streams.
The site added: 'Eradication of the American mink population in Ireland is now impossible due to its spread throughout the whole country.'
'Its introduction, whilst increasing competition for food and habitat resources with the native otter species, has not been overly damaging to native Irish biodiversity.'
