New contamination COVID-19 at mink farm | News item

An infection with SARS-CoV-2 has been detected at a mink farm in Rijkevoort. It is a company with 12,500 dams. The contamination was brought to light by means of the early warning monitoring system with which cadavers are tested weekly for the virus. The company is cleared as soon as possible.

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A total of 27 mink farms in the Netherlands have now been declared infected. All animals were culled at 26 farms where SARS-CoV-2 has previously been established.

Measures

Ministers Hugo de Jonge of Health, Welfare and Sport and Carola Schouten of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, together with the fur farming sector and experts, have tightened up the hygiene protocol. There is also a national transport ban and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is conducting in-depth research into possible routes of contamination.

In addition, at the request of ministers De Jonge and Schouten, the OMT-Z once again gave advice on the situation at mink companies. The public health risk of mink companies is unchanged, according to OMT-Z. Companies must adhere strictly to stricter measures to prevent the introduction of viruses. This concerns the obligation to register visitors, to apply hygiene measures (such as wearing personal protective equipment) and to follow up the test regime for caregivers with COVID-19 complaints. The policy with regard to testing employees on mink farms will also be further elaborated in collaboration with the GGD.

Stops the Regeling

The government is working on a quit scheme with which mink companies can voluntarily terminate their business operations in the short term. In 2024, mink farms will stop their activities in accordance with the legal prohibition.

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