Despite the good news this morning, bad news is also coming in. Thanks to Brenda Beagi for sending the link to this November 6 report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mink farms in Taylor County under quarantine after 5,000 COVID deaths. Excerpt:
Two mink farms in Taylor County are under quarantine after animals in the facilities tested positive for ARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans.
Between the two farms, more than 5,400 mink have died, said Kevin Hoffman, the public information officer for the state Division of Animal Health.
The virus was confirmed at the first farm in early October when a dead mink tested positive for the disease. The farm was quarantined at that point, meaning no animals or animal parts could leave the premises. It's believed the virus jumped from a human to the animals, Hoffman said, but an investigation into the transfer is still underway.
The outbreak at the second farm was found more recently, Hoffman said. It is not believed that the virus jumped from the first farm to the second.
Mink are members of the Mustelidae family that also includes weasels, badgers, otters, marten and wolverines. Wisconsin is one of the top producers of mink pelts in the U.S., Hoffman said. State officials are worried about the outbreaks and are regularly communicating with the state's 19 mink farms.
