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The first case of a mink coronavirus in Poland appeared on Sunday. It has previously been established that these animals can transmit COVID-19 to humans. However, there are no confirmed cases of the virus being transmitted to other animals, including dogs and cats.
- On Sunday, the first case of SARS-CoV-2 in mink was discovered in Poland. A decision was made to dispose of the entire farm where the infection occurred
- Minks can transmit the virus to humans. For now, this is the only animal species found to have this
- There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted to humans by other animals, including pets, the US CDC reported
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
On Sunday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mink in Poland. The animals come from a farm near Kartuzy in Pomerania.
On Monday, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said that a decision was made to close down the entire farm with the virus found. All persons taking care of the animals on the unfortunate farm have been quarantined, and its employees will also be tested for the presence of the pathogen.
Minks are susceptible to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus because, like humans, they have a protein in their lungs – the ACE2 receptor, which the virus uses to enter cells. However, the ACE2 receptor in mink differs slightly from that in humans.
The first cases of mink infected with the coronavirus were recorded in the Netherlands in April last year. It was then that there was a suspicion that COVID-19 could be transmitted from person to burrow and vice versa. It was quickly confirmed. In Denmark, on one farm, animals were first infected by humans with the coronavirus and then transferred the disease to two people.
- Minks transmit the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus between themselves and to humans. Why could it be dangerous?
Other animals do not transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus
There is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the coronavirus to humans. but precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of humans and their pets, officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday.
“Based on still limited information, the risk of animals, including pets, spreading COVID-19 to humans is considered low,” said Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC veterinarian and epidemiologist at the conference on Monday.
In mid-January, we knew about 187 animals from 22 countries with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, added Behravesh, but noted that this data does not include farm mink. There has also been no case of the animal dying from the coronavirus.
The CDC also listed the species of animals at the highest risk of infection. – The animals most susceptible to the virus are cats, hamsters, non-human primates, as well as rabbits, mink and deer – Behravesh said.
Behravesh stressed that pets, especially cats and dogs, are the species most affected by the coronavirus. And while the risk of transmitting the virus to humans is low, humans can still infect animals they stay with at home.
Therefore, the CDC recommends that when COVID-19 occurs in humans, treat animals the same way as treat your loved ones. Avoid contact, hug, kiss or sleep in the same bed. When interacting with animals, infected people should wear masks, and preferably they should be looked after by another household member who is not infected with the coronavirus. Keep animals outside to prevent spreading the virus.
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People who suspect their pets may have the coronavirus should consult their veterinarian. Behravesh reported data showing that of 93 COVID-19 cases in cats and dogs, 50 animals showed no symptoms. Where they occurred, the most common were: coughing, sneezing, fever, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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Animals tested positive for COVID-19 should be isolated from humans and other animals.
According to Behravesh, there is no evidence that animals transmit the coronavirus on their skin or hair, so prophylactic bathing of animals with chemical disinfectants is not advisable. She noted that recently the cases of poisoning in animals as a result of such practices have increased.
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