In Denmark, authorities announced on Wednesday a mass slaughter campaign of 15 to 17 million mink, or all of the kingdom's mink.

The country, the world's largest producer of mink, has been overtaken by the number of coronavirus contaminations of these mammals.

Europe 1 explains everything there is to know about this radical decision. 

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced on Wednesday that fifteen to seventeen million mink will be slaughtered.

But why did you choose such a radical decision?

Anne Le Gall looks back on the sad fate of these small mammals in the morning of Europe 1.

In farms, it is difficult to control the virus

These little furry animals are victims of massive Covid-19 contamination, so the virus is spreading more and more quickly in farms.

It is therefore in the name of the precautionary principle that Denmark announced, Wednesday, November 4, the elimination, as quickly as possible, of all of the 15 to 17 million mink raised on its territory.


Some slaughterings had already been carried out this summer during the first coronavirus contaminations of mink.

The same goes for the Netherlands and Spain, where thousands of mink have already been killed.

A mutation of the Covid-19

But the Danish authorities are worried this time around.

And for good reason, a mutant coronavirus has been spotted in five farms.

It has infected a dozen people, who today are no longer carriers of the virus, in the north of the Jutland region, in the west of the country.

"The worst-case scenario is to have a pandemic returning from here to Denmark," warned the head of the Danish Infectious Disease Control Authority (SSI), Kåre Mølbak.

"Mutated virus detected in mink" does not respond to antibodies as much as normal virus.

Antibodies still have an effect, but not as effective, "he said.

>> LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Thursday, November 5

A mass slaughter campaign

A priori, this mutant coronavirus is no more dangerous for humans.

But in a context of vaccine research, there is "no question of letting it multiply, according to the Danish authorities, they are trying to block it at the source", explains Jeanne Brugère-Picoux, member of the Veterinary Academy of France and of the National Academy of Medicine.

"Leaving it in the wild could affect the effectiveness of future vaccines, which do not take this variant into account," she adds.

As of Monday, the authorities had already slaughtered more than 1.2 million animals.

According to the Prime Minister, the police, the army and the national emergency services will be mobilized with the breeders to help them with this heavy task.