Find the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a wild mink in the US

2020/12/15 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Mikrobiologia
• Zoologia
• Albaitaritza
• COVID-19

The U.S. Veterinary Services Laboratory confirms that they have found the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a wild mink. In fact, in October the Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service conducted a study in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin, in which the virus has been isolated in a sample collected around a Utah mink nursery, the rest being negative.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), although some animals have been shown to be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, people become contaminated through others. However, animals, both wild and domestic, can become a reservoir of the virus, which can be dangerous, since the virus can jump from them to humans and accelerate their evolution. In addition, it would also be dangerous for threatened species to spread the virus to animals.

The IMO also warns that contaminated or potentially contaminated people should not be in contact with domestic and wild animals from breeders. Outbreaks in European seedbeds are attributed to infected workers. Thus, measures have been adopted in nurseries and veterinarians and ecologists have pointed out the need to monitor the wild environment.