WHO reviews the biosafety of global mink farms
The World Health Organization confirmed on the 6th that the organization is reviewing the biosafety of mink farms worldwide.
In view of the occurrence of multiple cases of mink transmitting the mutant new crown virus to humans in the Danish mink farms, the Danish government announced the slaughter of all domestic mink farms and the "closed cities" of 7 northern cities.
[Focus on safety]
Maria Van Kelkhoff, the head of WHO's new crown virus technology, said at a press conference on the 6th that WHO and its regional offices are reviewing the biosecurity of mink farms in various regions to avoid "overflow" conditions.
Van Kelkhoff's "overflow" situation refers to a situation similar to the new crown epidemic in Denmark.
Danish Prime Minister Met Frazerriksen said on the 4th that in view of the fact that a variant of the new crown virus found in farmed mink by the health department has been transmitted to people, the government will slaughter all farmed minks in this Nordic country, with a maximum of 17 million.
The Danish government announced the "blockade" of seven northern cities the next day.
Countries such as the Netherlands and Spain have also detected mink infections in mink farms for several months.
[No conclusion]
The Danish National Serum Institute said that as of the evening of the 5th, 12 people have been confirmed to be infected with the mutant new coronavirus, involving 5 mink farms.
However, the Danish "Division" reported that from June to mid-October, 214 people in Denmark were infected with this new crown virus variant, 200 of whom were in North Jutland.
North Jutland is the main mink farm in Denmark.
Denmark is one of the world's largest mink producers. There are about 1,100 mink farms raising about 17 million minks.
According to the Danish health department, the new strain is caused by the mutation of the spike protein and will not aggravate the human condition, but it can inhibit the function of the new crown virus vaccine, and there is a risk of affecting the effectiveness of the new crown vaccine.
Sumia Swaminatan, the chief scientist of the WHO, said on the 6th that it is too early to conclude that the mutated new coronavirus will inhibit the effectiveness of the vaccine.
"We need to wait and see what effect (this virus variant) will have, but I don't think we should make a conclusion on whether this particular variant will affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. There is no evidence yet."
Catherine Smallwood, a WHO European regional official, said that genetic changes in the virus over time are "completely normal...we track these changes very carefully." At present, governments and health institutions do not need to change epidemic prevention measures.
(Du Juan) (Xinhua News Agency special feature)