Denmark will kill millions of minks due the covid-19

Denmark is going to slaughter millions of mink bred on its territory - the total population is 17 million - due to a mutation of the covid-19 virus that has already been transmitted to 12 people. The mutation could threaten the effectiveness of a future vaccine for humans. The decision was announced by Danish Premier Mette Frederiksen.

Denmark is the second largest exporter of mink fur in the world after China, and between 15 and 17 million minks live on its farms. In recent weeks, animals from 400 farms where there were cases of coronavirus infection have already been killed.

According to the government, at least 12 people were infected with the coronavirus with the mutation found in minks in Jutland; Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said that half of the 783 cases of covid-19 in people in northern Denmark "is linked" to minks. This is why it was decided to kill all minks in the country, in fact eliminating, perhaps for years, the fur industry.