WHO looking at biosecurity in other countries after Danish COVID-19 mink outbreak

The World Health Organization said on Friday it was looking at biosecurity in countries where there are mink farms after Denmark ordered a nationwide cull of the animals due to a widespread coronavirus outbreak among them. Maria van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, told a WHO news briefing in Geneva that the transmission of the virus between animals and humans was "a concern". The risk was much lower in animals other than mink, a second WHO expert said.

The World Health Organization said on Friday it was looking at biosecurity in countries where there are mink farms after Denmark ordered a nationwide cull of the animals due to a widespread coronavirus outbreak among them.

Maria van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead for COVID-19, told a WHO news briefing in Geneva that the transmission of the virus between animals and humans was "a concern". The risk was much lower in animals other than mink, a second WHO expert said. "We are working with regional offices... where there are mink farms, and looking at biosecurity and to prevent spillover events," van Kerkhove said.