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SALT LAKE CITY — The virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in mink in two Utah farms — the first confirmed cases of the virus in the species in the U.S., state and federal officials said Monday.
The virus was found in five animals after tests were conducted at Washington State University on recently diseased minks in Utah. Dr. Dean Taylor, the state veterinarian for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, said both farms experienced a "substantial increase" in the death rates of their mink populations. The deaths prompted officials to test for SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that results in COVID-19 for humans.
Taylor declined to say which two farms were impacted or the general area of the state the farms were located. He said Utah is one of the country's largest mink producers and both were among Utah's larger mink farms.
"We've been in contact with the industry and we're working with them to put together best practices, so they can avoid this," he said. "We do know this is one of the more susceptible species, so I would assume they are taking this seriously and will put in place the things they need to put in their farms."
The finding adds to a slowly growing list of species that have confirmed positive SARS-CoV-2 virus results since April — some in zoo captivity at the time. Other species include cats, dogs, tigers and lions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Mink, which are Mustelidae similar to otters and ferrets, have tested positive for the virus in Netherlands, Spain and Denmark with some fatal cases in those areas too, the USDA notes.
The mink in Utah that tested positive may be the first in the U.S., but they're not the first animals to test positive for SAR-CoV-2 in the state. The agency reports at least four cats and two dogs tested positive for the virus on July 22. It's still unclear how the mink on Utah farms got infected with the virus. Taylor didn't specify how many minks died or what the mortality rate increase was in terms of percentages but said it was enough to raise suspicion.
The discovery is something that Taylor said should get attention, especially for farmers. That said, he added it's not something that should completely change the industry.
"I don't think it's cause for all of us to change programs that they've already put in place," Taylor said. "Most of these farms have good biosecurity and I don't think they need to worry unduly, but obviously all of us need to take it seriously."
In a statement, USDA officials said people who came in contact with mink at the farms tested positive for COVID-19, but there’s no indication of any mink-to-human transmission of the virus.
In fact, USDA officials said there's little evidence that any of the infected animals in Utah or the U.S. “play a significant role” in transmitting the virus to humans. Taylor said there haven't been any documented cases of animal-to-human transmission and said more research is needed to understand exactly what animals get infected by the virus and how it spreads between species.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added that other species that appear vulnerable to the virus include primates, ferrets and golden Syrian hamsters. Mice, pigs, chickens and ducks were among species that “do not seem” to be infected by the virus based on studies.
The CDC said there is no evidence that the virus spreads through skin, fur or animal hair. But since animals like dogs and cats have tested positive for the virus, including pets that have died since contracting it, the agency does have guidelines for how to handle pets if you or someone in your household tests positive for COVID-19.
Recommendations for pets during COVID-19 include:
- Treat pets the same way you would treat other family members or people. That means isolate a pet from someone who is sick and do not let pets interact with people outside of your household when outside.
- Keep pets inside as much as possible and do not let pets roam freely. Keep dogs on a leash and at least 6 feet away from others, the same way people are urged to socially distance from one another when outside the home.
- Do not bring pets to public places where a large group of people typically gather.
- Don’t put masks on pets because, unlike with most humans, they may cause harm to your pet. Also, don’t wipe or bathe a pet with any chemical disinfectants, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or any other product not approved for animals.
The CDC also advises that a pet owner contact their veterinarian if their pet gets sick. More information about how to handle pets during the pandemic can be found on the CDC’s website.
