Your reading list

More mink with COVID-19 have been discovered in B.C.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: August 19, 2021

Early in the pandemic it was found that mink were catching COVID-19 and passing it to farmers. | Getty Images

The British Columbia government is identifying more cases of COVID-19 in mink as the province’s affected fur farms remain under quarantine.

As of Aug. 6, eight mink have tested positive for the virus on one farm, after two cases were initially identified in May.

Three of those mink had escaped their cages but were captured on the farm, according to the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

Three B.C. fur farms have had mink test positive for COVID-19 since December. All remain under quarantine.

Read Also

Last used Sept 15, 2022 The American pea harvest is estimated to be 747,210 tonnes this year, a far cry from the 387,780 tonnes produced during last year’s drought. SKL Last used Oct 14, 2021. An Israeli company hopes its new high-protein yellow pea variety can be registered next year and Ripe yellow peas on the plant ready to be harvested.

Trump’s tariffs take their toll on U.S. producers

U.S. farmers say Trump’s tariffs have been devastating for growers in that country.

The province has nine mink farms in total, all located in the Fraser Valley.

According to an order by the B.C. health officer issued late last month, infectious mink pose a concern of developing mutated strains of the virus that could, “re-infect humans and such mutated strains may pose a risk of development of variants of concern.”

B.C. has also ordered mink farms report their numbers of the animals to health officials and not increase populations.

No new mink farms will be allowed to be established under the B.C. health order.

Fur farms around the world have been coping with COVID-19 in mink since the pandemic began with Denmark ordering the culling of millions of the fur-bearing animal last year.

About the author

Alex McCuaig

Alex McCuaig

explore

Stories from our other publications