An uncontrolled mutation of COVID-19 has been identified in a Latvian fur farm where minks are raised, and thus the entire population of 100,000 animals may be destroyed. About it informs Delfi Portal.
Mutations are noted to have been developing since early spring 2021, when minks suffering from coronavirus were first identified at the SIA Baltic Devon Mink fur farm. Farm employees were also infected, in connection with which the scientists, based on the samples obtained from the virus, concluded that COVID-19 was repeatedly and easily transmitted from person to mink and vice versa.
The Latvian Biomedical Research Center (BMC) said that the transmission of the virus between animals, in principle, cannot be controlled, and it is not known what new mutations of the virus may appear among them. Among the new mutations were identified and potentially dangerous, which, according to the Center, can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines. A researcher at the Monta Briviba Center even suggested that they might be called a “Latvian strain.”
The company that owns the fur farm has ensured that there is no increase in mortality and symptoms among the minks on the farm, and that there is a strict safety protocol for employees. However, BMC said it saw no other solution than to destroy the animal population.
The corresponding recommendation, the newspaper notes, was transferred to the Latvian headquarters for transfer to the government, but there is no concrete decision yet. The damage to the company in case of mink destruction will be measured in millions of euros.
In November 2020 in Denmark decided to destroy all minks in fur farms to prevent the spread of the mutated coronavirus. The mink was later diagnosed with a mutated infection that spreads to humans and weakens the ability to form antibodies.
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