Mutations in coronavirus have triggered culls of all 17 million farmed mink in Denmark. What do we know so far?
1. Mink kept in large numbers on mink farms have caught the virus from infected workers. In a small number of cases, the virus has spilled back from mink to humans, picking up genetic changes on the way.
2. Scientists suspect the virus spreads in mink farms through infectious droplets, on feed or bedding, or in dust containing droppings.
3. Parts of Denmark have been put under lockdown after authorities found genetic changes they say might undermine the effectiveness of future Covid-19 vaccines.
4. Outbreaks have also been reported on fur farms in the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Italy and the United States, and millions of animals have had to be culled.
5. Mink are known to be susceptible to coronavirus and, like humans, they can show a range of symptoms, from no signs of illness to pneumonia.
This article is a Fika Online exclusive.
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