Second Fur Farm in Taylor County Experiencing COVID Outbreak

Monday, November 9th, 2020 -- 8:07 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -State animal health officials say a second fur farm in Taylor County is experiencing a major COVID-type outbreak that is wiping out its mink supply.

Kevin Hoffman of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture says more than 2,000 mink have died at the location. That's after another operation in the same county reported over 3,400 animal deaths since early October.  The National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed that the mink are dying from the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. These are the first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections among Wisconsin's mink population.

Utah's mink industry has also confirmed infections earlier this year.  Neither of the Taylor County farms have been identified by the agency, but all animals on both operations have been quarantined.  Experts say there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 to humans, but people infected with the virus can spread it to them.

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