Copenhagen (AFP)

Denmark defended itself on Friday from sowing panic after the discovery of a problematic mutation of the coronavirus from mink, which it said could threaten the effectiveness of a future human vaccine and cause it to slaughter all these mammals and shut down part of the country.

"We are taking the necessary and appropriate measures" in the face of "worrying" development, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said at a press conference for foreign media.

Denmark aroused concern on Wednesday by announcing the massive slaughter of all mink in the kingdom - 15 to 17 million heads - after the discovery of a mutation transmissible to humans already detected in twelve people.

Eleven cases have been identified in the region of North Jylland alone, where drastic restrictions have since been imposed by Scandinavian standards: in seven municipalities, the 280,000 inhabitants are ordered not to leave their municipality and public transport is shut down, when bars and restaurants close.

The municipalities concerned (Laesø, Frederikshavn, Hjørring, Brønderslev, Jammerbugt, Thisted and Vesthimmerland) are all located at the northern tip of Jutland, in western Denmark.

The measures are scheduled for one month.

The mutation of a virus is trivial and often harmless, according to the scientific community.

But in the case of this strain, called "Cluster 5", it implies, according to the first studies, a lower efficiency of human antibodies, which threatens the development of a vaccine against Covid-19.

Despite the warning from the Danish Infectious Disease Control Authority SSI, little is yet confirmed about the real risks of this mutation, according to specialists.

And if the mutation itself has only been detected in recent days, the twelve cases go back to at least September, which raised questions during the press conference on a possible overreaction.

"We would rather take one step too much than one less," said the Danish foreign minister.

Asked by AFP, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), observed that the risk existed but that there was still great uncertainty.

A mutation "may have possible implications on immunity, re-infections or the effectiveness of vaccines against Covid-19, but there is currently great uncertainty," says the European Union agency in charge of epidemics in an email to AFP.

"More analysis and scientific studies are needed to better understand the mutations identified and their potential implications," according to Stockholm-based ECDC.

Besides "Cluster 5", four other mutations of the virus from mink have been identified but are not considered problematic.

In totality, patients and patients in Denmark.

Further research on "Cluster 5" should make it possible to determine its particularities.

"These studies take time (...) instead of waiting we prefer to act", defended an official of SSI, Tyra Grove Krause.

On Friday, more than a hundred farmers demonstrated against the slaughter of mink.

According to the authorities, however, it should be completed in the coming weeks.

© 2020 AFP