It is plausible that a mink-to-human infection with the coronavirus has occurred in the Netherlands. This was reported by the National Government on Tuesday evening on the basis of new research results from the ongoing research into coronavirus infections on mink farms. It would be the first time that the virus has been transmitted from animal to human in the Netherlands.
According to the national government, it is plausible that an employee of an infected mink company is infected by mink with the COVID-19 virus. The employee’s virus has similarities with the virus found in mink of that company. It is not known at which mink farm the suspected contamination occurred. At the end of April, the virus was detected in a number of minks at several companies in North Brabant.
The current research also shows that mink infected with the coronavirus do not always show symptoms of disease. Therefore Minister of Agriculture Carola Schouten and Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge are taking a number of measures. For example, the screening of mink companies (for mink antibodies) is extended to all mink companies in the Netherlands. This screening is mandatory and will be carried out by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
If an infection is detected at a company, employees are advised to use protective equipment during their work. There is also a visitor ban. The reporting obligation that Minister Schouten previously imposed on mink farmers, veterinarians and persons from research institutions is being expanded. All symptoms that may indicate an infection with the coronavirus in mink must now be reported to the NVWA.
Schouten: ‘Major impact on involved parties’
“These new research results have a major impact on the owners, families and employees of mink farms as well as on local communities. I am therefore in close contact with all these stakeholders,” says Schouten.
According to Schouten, the virus is not in the air outside the stables. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) indicates that the risk of exposure of people to the virus outside the house is still negligible. The risk that people can become infected by their pets also remains small, according to the RIVM.
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The coronavirus in short
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