In Denmark, all fur animals on mink farms infected with the coronavirus have now been killed. The Danish food authority Fodevarestyrelsen announced today on Twitter.
In total, the mink stocks were culled on 284 farms where coronavirus cases had surfaced. That corresponds to about every fourth mink farm in Denmark. 25 other farms are also under suspicion of coronavirus. The exact number of culled animals was not revealed by the authorities.
15 to 17 million minks culled
The Danish government announced two weeks ago that all fur animals in the country should be killed because the coronavirus had mutated in the animals and had already spread to humans. There are around 15 to 17 million minks in total. The drastic step was justified with concerns about the negative effects of these modified viruses on the effect of possible future coronavirus vaccines.
At the time of the announcement, however, there was no legal basis for the mass culling of all mink in the country – including those from farms without a coronavirus case or outside the risk areas. The Danish government admitted this belatedly, which ultimately led to Food Minister Mogens Jensen announcing his resignation.
In the meantime, however, the government has found a parliamentary majority to legally safeguard the move. According to a corresponding agreement, mink keeping in Denmark is also to be temporarily prohibited until the end of 2021.
