SARS-CoV-2 in mink: recommendations to improve monitoring
According to a new report by ECDC and EFSA, early detection of SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) should be a priority objective for monitoring activities at mink farms in the EU.
The report, compiled by ECDC and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposes options for monitoring strategies that will help to prevent and control spread of the disease.
It concludes that all mink farms should be considered at risk from SARS-CoV-2 and that monitoring should include active measures such as testing of animals and staff in addition to passive surveillance by farmers and veterinarians.
The report was requested by the European Commission following outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in mink farms across Europe in 2020.
As of January 2021, the virus has been detected at 400 mink farms in eight countries in the EU/EEA – 290 in Denmark, 69 in the Netherlands, 21 in Greece, 13 in Sweden, three in Spain, two in Lithuania and one each in France and Italy.
