Transmission of coronavirus on mink farms

Researchers from, among others, Erasmus MC, Utrecht University and Wageningen University & Research investigated the genetic origin of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) on sixteen infected Dutch mink farms and the people who live or work there. Their conclusion: the coronavirus was initially introduced by humans and then mutated, probably as a result of widespread circulation among minks at the beginning of the infection period a few weeks before it was detected. 68% of the tested residents, staff and/or contacts were found to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which originated from animals and not humans. This shows the transmission from animals to humans of the coronavirus via mink.

'Contrary to reports from Denmark, we found no evidence in the Netherlands that people in the surrounding area have been infected with mink variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.'

Click here for the publication in Science.