The World Animal Health Information System reported on an extensive outbreak of H5N1 on a fur farm in central Ostrobothnia in Finland.  The facility held 1,500 racoon dogs (Nycterentes procyanoides) and 3,500 Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopas).  The diagnosis was made following mortality among litters and adult animals yielding H5N1 avian influenza viral RNA by PCR.  Surveillance demonstrated the presence of the virus on four other fur farms in the region.  It was not reported whether the affected animals had been fed raw poultry, meat and offal.  Sporadic cases of avian influenza in Arctic foxes have been noted but this was a result of scavenging dead birds.  Authorities in Finland are investigating mass mortality in seagulls in presumed to be due to avian influenza.

Molecular analysis is in progress to determine whether mutations in the PB2 gene segment were present that are associated with susceptibility in mammals.

Fur farms that concentrate large numbers of wild carnivores, including mink, in close proximity represent the potential for mutations to occur.  Epidemiologic evidence suggested mink to mink transmission in an October 2022 case in Spain.

Fur farms represent a risk for the potential emergence of zoonotic infections and are undesirable and anachronistic serving only the vanity of the rich to the detriment of humanity.