Posted on 12/15/2020 9:30:42 AM PST by Red Badger
Officials say a wild mink in Utah tested positive for the coronavirus.
Story at a glance
The USDA has been carrying out screenings of species around mink farms in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin for several months over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if the virus has spread to nearby wildlife.
A mink found in the immediate vicinity of one of the affected farms is the only wild animal caught in the area to test positive.
“To our knowledge, this is the 1st free-ranging, native wild animal confirmed with SARS-CoV-2,” USDA officials wrote.
The first known case of coronavirus in a wild animal in the U.S. has been reported in Utah, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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USDA officials said a wild mink in Utah tested positive for the coronavirus during surveillance of wildlife around mink farms that have experienced outbreaks. The USDA has been carrying out screening of species around mink farms in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin for several months over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if the virus has spread to nearby wildlife.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) said the viral genome taken from the wild mink was indistinguishable from that in infected mink on farms around the state.
“The [NVSL] has confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by real time RT-PCR and sequencing of a nasal swab collected from a free-ranging, wild mink sampled in Utah,” USDA officials wrote.
“To our knowledge, this is the 1st free-ranging, native wild animal confirmed with SARS-CoV-2.”
The mink was found in the immediate vicinity of one of the affected farms and is the only wild animal caught in the area to test positive.
“There is currently no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is circulating or has been established in wild populations surrounding the infected mink farms,” the USDA wrote.
Mink farms have been particularly hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. In Denmark and other parts of Europe, millions of mink on farms around the country have been culled following widespread outbreaks.
The virus has been found in other captive wild animals, including tigers, lions and snow leopards, as well as in dogs and cats.
My furniture and my lawn have covid-19!!!
I think pencils and sidewalks have it too.
As long as it doesn’t get into the meat industry.
Why are they wasting valuable tests on minks somewhere?
There are people waiting on tests and lab results all over the country.
The probably contaminated the sample when they gathered, transported, or tested it.
Amazing.
{{{rolls eyes}}}
Rosie O’Donnell?
Next it will be our food supply.
Big Deal.....so did a bottle of Coke.
Burn it!
So mink coats are out? 😱
The article states a mink, not a geriatric obese beaver...
As long as it doesn’t get into the meat industry.
Soooo, we’re talking a walking dead situation here?
I’ve watched every episode, I’m ready.
Bump
Probably wasn’t wearing a mask.
Coca-Cola tested positive for Coronavirus
It rained here last night and the wind was out of the north so I stepped around a mud puddle this morning because I suspected it had COVID in it. It’s everywhere...it’s everywhere!!! No one can escape! We’re all owned by the Fauxi and his CCP bioweapons lab buddies. /s
Quarantine all the animals!
Since it is cold, are the furs “Prime”? Can they still be used?
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