GENEVA (Reuters) – 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.
(This story corrects to make clear comment in paragraph two on risk being lower in other animals was made by a second expert)
(Reporting by Emma Farge and Kate Kelland; Editing by Alex Richardson)
