Posted on 12/15/2020 9:30:42 AM PST by Red Badger
Officials say a wild mink in Utah tested positive for the coronavirus.
Story at a glance
The USDA has been carrying out screenings of species around mink farms in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin for several months over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if the virus has spread to nearby wildlife.
A mink found in the immediate vicinity of one of the affected farms is the only wild animal caught in the area to test positive.
“To our knowledge, this is the 1st free-ranging, native wild animal confirmed with SARS-CoV-2,” USDA officials wrote.
The first known case of coronavirus in a wild animal in the U.S. has been reported in Utah, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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USDA officials said a wild mink in Utah tested positive for the coronavirus during surveillance of wildlife around mink farms that have experienced outbreaks. The USDA has been carrying out screening of species around mink farms in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin for several months over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if the virus has spread to nearby wildlife.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) said the viral genome taken from the wild mink was indistinguishable from that in infected mink on farms around the state.
“The [NVSL] has confirmed SARS-CoV-2 by real time RT-PCR and sequencing of a nasal swab collected from a free-ranging, wild mink sampled in Utah,” USDA officials wrote.
“To our knowledge, this is the 1st free-ranging, native wild animal confirmed with SARS-CoV-2.”
The mink was found in the immediate vicinity of one of the affected farms and is the only wild animal caught in the area to test positive.
“There is currently no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 is circulating or has been established in wild populations surrounding the infected mink farms,” the USDA wrote.
Mink farms have been particularly hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. In Denmark and other parts of Europe, millions of mink on farms around the country have been culled following widespread outbreaks.
The virus has been found in other captive wild animals, including tigers, lions and snow leopards, as well as in dogs and cats.
Then we must stop feeding coke to animals...................
Jill is looking forward to getting a new mink
Probably need to be cleaned first.................
As long as it doesn’t get into the meat industry.
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You don’t eat mink?
You know it’s only a matter of time.
Then they will say meat of any kind will give you the virus and we all become vegans........ except for the ‘elites’ and they will be eating all the meat they want....................
Who is going to insist that the large carnivores start wearing masks? I don’t care if you do crap in the woods, Mr. Grizzly, you syill have to wear a mask.
Wow. They just happened to find the one animal who has it, out of millions (or billions?) of animals.
Amazing.
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When they start testing insects, that’s talking trillions.
I might just buy a few more steaks this week.
A can of coke tested positive a few days ago.
I think it was communist too.
There is a greater mass of termites than humans on Earth. Just one type of insect.
“Life...finds a way.”
Dr. Malcolm in Jurassic Park
Thinking we can control viruses, climate, or any other global entity is nonsense. We can’t even run a single National Park properly.
Stay home and stop getting a pet to help your depression...(esp a dog or cat)
We want you suicidal depressed.
That’s an insult to wild animals everywhere.
In before the South Park Pandemic Special Bat/Pangolin fornication themes.
Another Mink vote for Biden!
The virus has been found in other captive wild animals, including tigers, lions and snow leopards, as well as in dogs and cats.
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Going to be a bitch to put a mask on the cat.
So?
Probably found a 1/2 empty can of Coke.
First its humans, then its cola, now its animals - how do you get animals to wear masks?
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