Could mink farms be the source of the next flu pandemic?

Mink It is widely bred for fur in different parts of the world, including Europe, North America and China. Likewise, much has been written about the cruel, unnecessary and (according to some) unethical practices of the process.However, there is less discussion on this issue hazards to human health and the animal that raised the young.

Mink fur farms can provide the best conditions for mink H5N1 influenza Scientists at Imperial College London have warned that the viruses could mutate and jump to humans, which could lead to the next global pandemic. In a just-published article, Imperial virologists highlight mink farming as a major global biosecurity risk and call for urgent action to address the danger of an impending global pandemic.The call coincides with reports this month about H5N1 Influenza Outbreak on Fur Farm

in Finland.

in science magazine Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Wendy BuckleyDirector of Department of Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health Imperial College LondonVirologist Thomas Peacock of Imperial College London and the Pirbright Institute of Virology shared some aspects of their research, highlighting the significant risks of fur farming, adding that the practice should be placed in the same category as livestock farming . High risks, such as bushmeat trade and live animal markets.

Among these concerns, experts highlight that mink farms represent avoidable biological threat makes more sense for the next step global flu pandemic. “Animals are susceptible to and transmit influenza and other respiratory viruses, and there is evidence of virus transmission from animals to other species (including SARS-CoV-2 and H5N1),” Barclay said.

researchers think Fur farming poses a threat Mink farming has a greater impact on global health than poultry or pig farming due to the lack of regulatory and protective equipment in mink biology, husbandry conditions, and animal handling and slaughter.

“this H5N1 Influenza Outbreak Continues They pose a significant epidemic risk, Peacock said, but so far cases have been largely confined to wild birds or solitary mammals with little human interaction. Mink farms present an excellent opportunity for the rapid spread of the H5N1 virus between animals and the accumulation of viral mutations, including adaptations that allow for easier transmission between humans. “

At the same time, experts warn in the document that the use of antiviral drugs is not a viable option on mink farms because of the high risk of the virus developing antimicrobial resistance, a condition that would render the drugs ineffective for treating mink .

Peacock continued: “Strongly restricting and/or regulating mink farming in Europe and North America is the single most effective and easily enforceable strategy to reduce the risk of a recent H5N1 pandemic event.”

In the article, the authors warn that “fur farming should be placed in the same high-risk category as bushmeat trade and live animal markets.”

“All these activities Increase the likelihood of future pandemics. At a minimum, biosecurity measures and active monitoring on fur farms need to be reviewed, substantially improved and strictly enforced,” concludes Barclays.