Denmark To Wipe Out Minker Population Due To Covid-19 Concerns

Cerpelai (Jo Anne McArthur / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Denmark plans to wipe out the entire mink population in the country. Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) states that small mammals are vulnerable to being a medium for transmission of COVID-19.

A WHO official said mink appeared to be susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The animal is a "good host" for the disease COVID-19, with a mutated genus that has infected dozens of people in Denmark.

Denmark plans to wipe out the entire stoat population of at least 17 million individuals. Denmark has also announced further strict restrictions on the north of the country to prevent transmission of the coronavirus to animals and humans.

"So, of course there is a risk that this mink population could contribute via various means of transmission of the virus from mink to human, and then from person to person," said Catherine Smallwood, senior emergencies officer at WHO's Europe office in Copenhagen, via social media.

While research into this specific variant of the virus is significant, he said it was "perfectly normal" for the virus to change genetically many times.

"We are tracking this (change) very carefully and that is why we are so interested in this particular information," he said.

Catherine added that this should not change the way governments and authorities around the world are trying to control the pandemic.

Hans Kluge, WHO's European region director, said Denmark was showing "determination and courage" in the face of the decision to wipe out its mink population of 17 million, which had "tremendous economic impact."