“The longer viruses can circulate in mammals, the greater the risk of mutations that can cause infections in humans as well. Mutations that facilitate the transmission of the virus to mammals have so far been detected in the virus genome isolated from animals in six farms. Mutations have been detected in minks, foxes and raccoons, the authority said press release on Wednesday.
The Food Agency also revealed that genome sequencing has supported indications that the virus has spread not only from birds to fur animals, but also between fur animals on farms. As the severity of symptoms in infected animals can vary significantly, it is necessary to carry out inspections also on farms where no infections have been detected.
The spread of bird flu in mammals is a threat to human health, especially during the regular flu season, because fur animals infected with both viruses at the same time – especially minks – can produce a new virus that can infect humans and possibly cause a new pandemic.
Avian flu infections have been found on 26 fur farms in Ostrobothnia. The Food Agency has previously ordered 11 of these to slaughter all their animals and five to slaughter some of their animals.
All of these farms have now been ordered to cull their remaining animals.
The Federation of Finnish Fur Breeders (Fifur) said on Wednesday that the slaughter order is a hard blow to fur farms.
“Most of these are healthy animals. This is a very harsh decision for farms. Olli-Pekka NissinenFifur’s communications manager, stated For Helsingin Sanomat. “There will inevitably be temporary and permanent layoffs at farms that have been ordered to slaughter.”
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page