COVID-19 spread quickly on fur farms starting in 2020, showing that they pose a risk to public health if they persist. Research from our newest report, Risky Business: The Danger of Zoonotic Disease in the Fur Trade highlights how minks can easily pass respiratory viruses to humans, and that the conditions on these farms promote disease spread.
COVID-19 Ravaged Mink Farms in Europe, Canada, and the U.S.
The COVID-19 pandemic, likely caused by humans coming into contact with infected animals, led to nearly 7 million deaths worldwide, including over 1 million in the U.S. COVID-19 outbreaks occurred at mink farms across Europe and North America, leading to millions of mink deaths.
The first outbreak was detected in April 2020 in the Netherlands, with subsequent cases reported in Denmark, Greece, Canada, Poland, Spain, and the U.S. In response to the initial outbreak in the Netherlands, the government took measures like closing streets near farms and requiring animal screenings. However, these actions did not stop the virus from spreading. Due to ongoing concerns about public safety, several European countries planned to ban fur farming altogether.
Failure to Close Mink Farms in the U.S. Has Enabled COVID-19 to Spread
Even after taking steps to control COVID-19, new variants emerged in people unrelated to mink farming. While some countries acted quickly to close or quarantine mink farms and kill infected animals, the U.S. did not follow suit, and many minks died from the disease. Since 2020, there have been confirmed outbreaks on at least 18 mink farms in various states (like Utah and Wisconsin), resulting in over 20,000 mink deaths in the U.S. Poor animal management and waste disposal practices likely increased the COVID-19 spread between minks and humans.
The CDC confirmed that farmed minks have spread the virus to humans and wild animals. “Spillback” is when diseases move from humans to animals, which is a concern for wild minks’ future. Mink fur farms pose a risk, as minks can escape and spread diseases to other animals and pets. In December 2021, wild minks in Utah and Oregon tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and COVID-19 antibodies were found in white-tailed deer. Uncontrolled “spillback” could lead to declines in various animal populations, disrupt ecosystems, and possibly create a more dangerous virus that could infect humans again.
It’s Time to Ban Mink Farming
Merely adding regulations and scrambling to contain disease outbreaks are not enough. We urge lawmakers to quickly pass the Mink VIRUS Act to ban mink farming in the U.S. to prevent a future pandemic. Based on information from previous outbreaks and the science available now, we know that any other changes in regulations other than a ban will not prevent the next pandemic.
For more information on the dangers of fur farming and its risks to public health, read our report, Risky Business: The Danger of Zoonotic Disease in the Fur Trade.
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
Devan
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