Authorities Confirm Mink Cull After COVID Outbreak At Farm

Spanish health authorities have confirmed there is an outbreak of COVID-19 at an American mink farm and they are expected to sacrifice all 3,100 animals in the coming days.

The Galicia Regional Government announced the outbreak at a farm in the municipality of A Bana in the province of A Coruna in the Spanish region of Galicia in a statement they released yesterday, 21st January.

The regional government said they informed the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) which are expected to report the incident to the European Commission and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The authorities managed to find the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak thanks to a new programme brought in by the Health and Agriculture ministries to track and prevent the spread of the virus in American mink (Neovison vison) farms.

All of the 3,100 animals, 2,500 female and 600 male, will be culled and the facilities will undergo a thorough disinfection in the coming days, according to the official statement.

It is unclear how the animals became infected, however the authorities found the most common way minks contract the virus in farms is through contact with people who have it.

It is the second time an outbreak has been found at an American mink farm in Spain. The first was in the province of Teruel in the autonomous community of Aragon in June 2020.

The Galicia Regional Government said they will continue to ensure the safety of the general population by keeping a close watch on all the necessary security measures in action and keeping open communication channels.