In another three breeding farms in Noord-Brabant and Limburg, contamination with SARS-CoV-2 has been found in mink. A total of 33 mink farms in the Netherlands have now been declared infected with the corona virus. All infected mink farms are cleared.
The company in De Mortel is a mink company with approximately 700 mother animals. The contamination came to light via the early warning monitoring system during the testing of cadavers. In Ottersum, a mink farm with approximately 8000 mother animals appears to be infected. This contamination has come to light through a report of disease symptoms in the mink.
In Alfhorst there was previously a suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 at the company and that contamination has now also been officially established, the LNV ministry reported on Sunday. It concerns a company with approximately 12,000 mother animals. The contamination had come to light by means of the early warning monitoring system, in which cadavers are tested for the virus every week.
At a mink farm in Ven-Zelderheid it concerns a company of about 1800 mother animals. The infected company will be cleared as soon as possible, the Ministry of Health reports. The infection also emerged from the so-called 'early warning' system, which means that mink farms are obliged to send cadavers of naturally dead animals for examination every week. It means the sixth infection in Limburg. The corona virus has already been diagnosed at five Limburg companies, in Castenray, Ysselsteyn, Ospel and two locations in Vredepeel.
In total, thirty-three of the more than 120 mink farms in the Netherlands have now been declared infected. At two breeding farms, the previous suspicions have now also been confirmed, the ministry reports. There are still stricter hygiene rules and a national transport ban for minks. Mink farmers will soon be able to appeal to a stoppers scheme, which means they can close their business without sacrificing much.
The Security Council is deeply concerned about the way in which Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Carola Schouten deals with the interests of residents living in mink farms. She is said to have little regard for the fear of local residents of the health risks of local residents. This became apparent last week from a letter from chairman Hubert Bruls of the Security Council, which is in the possession of RTL Nieuws.
Bruls refers to the course of events during the Q fever epidemic between 2007 and 2011. Neighbors and visitors developed Q fever from infected goats and sheep. Dozens of them died. Many ex-patients are still experiencing the effects of the disease.
During the Q fever crisis, the Ministry of Agriculture paid more attention to the goats and sheep than to the people who became ill. The fear now exists, especially among mayors in Brabant and Limburg, that the approach to corona among minks will be exactly the same. The fact that corona has passed from mink to humans in at least two cases fuels this fear, it is said.
Earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality rejected a plea for complete removal of all network farms. It has been said that the case will be reviewed 'in mid-August', if the infections still persist. Before the corona crisis, it was already stipulated that mink farms must close their doors from 2024 at the latest.