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Mink

All articles tagged with #mink

animal-welfare2 years ago•1 min saved

"Avian Flu Outbreak Sparks Massive Cull of Fur Animals in Finland and Estonia"

Finland, Europe's largest fox fur producer, has initiated the culling of 120,000 foxes and mink to contain an outbreak of avian flu that has affected fur farms. The culling order has been issued for 13 farms, with 10 already completed. Since the end of 2021, Europe has been experiencing its worst avian flu outbreak, and there are concerns about the virus spreading to humans. The increase in avian flu cases has also reignited calls for a ban on the fur industry in Finland.

via Euronews|

#animal-welfare #avian-flu #finland

science2 years ago•4 min saved

Mink Outbreak Points to Wild Virus Source.

Mink in three Polish farms tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, carrying a strain not seen in humans in the region for over two years, suggesting another unknown species may have been harboring and spreading the virus. Researchers suspect that wild animals, such as martens, feral cats, or escaped mink, could have cryptically spread the virus and introduced it to the mink farms. The finding highlights the risk of viral "spillback," where the virus could periodically move back to humans from an animal population that could become a new reservoir.

via Ars Technica|

#genetic-mutations #mink #sars-cov-2