By NewsDesk   @bactiman63

The State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS) in Lithuania has notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) of their first cases of SARS-CoV-2 in mink on a farm in Jonava district.

Image by 272447 from Pixabay

According to officials, the farm of some 60,000 American mink saw increased deaths in the animals and randomly tested the animals by PCR.

169 minks were found dead and randomly 10 were sampled and tested by PCR and were positive to SARS-CoV2. Next day out of 155 found dead 22 were sampled and all tested positive to SARS-CoV2 by PCR for a total of 324.

In total 5 farm workers were detected positive to COVID-19.

“The results of the study show that the SARS-CoV-2 virus could have been transmitted to the animals by a farm worker, so we urge all mink farms in the country to adhere strictly to all biosecurity requirements”, emphasized the Director of the SFVS.

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