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COVID in Mink Politicized in Poland

 12/06/2020

Following outbreaks of COVID-19 on mink farms in Holland, Spain, Greece, Sweden, the U.S.,  Lithuania and in Denmark with the emergence of a mutant virus in mink, the Medical University of Gdansk initiated surveillance on mink farms in Poland.  The Medical University claims to have identified eight farms with animals carrying virus.  Confirmatory tests conducted by the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) failed to detect virus in mink on a specific farm considered to be infected.  Dr. Krzysztof Czukniem Director General of the NVRI regards the farm as virus-free based on the inspection and assay conducted by his Department.  The Medical University of Gdansk is standing by its findings.  To date, 18 workers on mink farms in Poland have been diagnosed with COVID-19 but it is unknown whether the workers have infected mink or vice-versa. 

The ruling government Law and Justice Party in Poland, recognized for a dictatorial approach to most social and economic problems originally considered a ban on fur farming following the lead of other EU nations but retracted following vigorous representations from mink farmers. 

 

At the present time Poland has a number of concerns relating to livestock diseases with African swine fever in hogs, avian influenza in poultry flocks and an ongoing problem of Salmonella infection in commercial egg farms in addition to both turkey and broiler products exported to other the EU nations. 

 

Denial of COVID-19 in mink may prove politically advantageous in the short term but ultimately convenient rejection of fact will prove counterproductive, whether in specific U.S. states or in Poland.

 

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), as of Nov. 30, 2020, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and, in the U.S., Michigan, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin had reported SARS-CoV-2 in farmed minks.