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COVID-19 between humans and animals

COVID-19 Transmission between humans and minks
    
    While it's clear that the coronavirus has a high transmission rate between humans, little is known about coronavirus transmission within animals and between animals and humans. Previous research has shown evidence of COVID-19 in dogs, cats, hamsters, and ferrets through experimental infection. However, during this process, the virus was found to be unable to infect pigs and poultry. Although scientists have concluded that the public health risk for exposure to infected animals is low, it is important that people are aware of the possible involvement of animals in the coronavirus pandemic. A study published in the journal Science on November 19, 2020, uses genome sequencing to investigate COVID-19 outbreaks on 16 mink farms in the Netherlands. The results provide details about transmission rates and evidence of animal to human transmission of COVID-19. 

    Study Overview

    After signs of respiratory issues and an increased mortality rate in minks, mink farmers reported their observances to researchers who tested the animals for coronavirus. On April 23 and April 25, 2020, COVID-19 was identified on two mink farms in the Netherlands for the first time. After this initial infection, scientists examined all mink farms in the country to determine virus transmission routes and occupational risk assessment. The study focuses on 16 mink farms infected with COVID-19 and 97 individuals associated with these farms who were tested for the virus. Overall, 66/97 (68%) of these people tested positive for COVID-19.
 
   Listed below are some key points from the study: 
  • Individuals on mink farms only tested positive for the virus after evidence of COVID-19 infections in mink, suggesting that the virus was transmitted from mink to human. 
  • COVID-19 genome sequences collected from mink farm employees or close contacts were found to be almost identical to those of minks from the same farm. 
  • Sequence clusters found on mink farms differed from those found in the neighboring areas, ruling out the possibility of infection from the community.
  • Further analysis of gene sequences allowed scientists come to the conclusion that the coronavirus was passed from humans to minks and then back to humans. 

Implications

    The study not only provides further evidence for COVID-19 infection in animals, but also confirms that COVID-19 can spread from animals to humans. In response to results from this study, the Netherlands have expedited a complete ban on mink farming which was originally planned for 2024, to March 2021. New knowledge from this study has already impacted mink farms and is likely to impact the fur industry as well. With more species known to be able to catch and spread the virus, it is imperative that everyone wears a mask and practices social distancing to limit COVID-19 transmission.

Sources

1. Munnink, Bas B. Oude, et al. “Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on Mink Farms between Humans and Mink and Back to Humans.” Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 10 Nov. 2020, science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/11/09/science.abe5901. 

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