SARS-CoV-2 infection in farmed minks, the Netherlands, April and May 2020
Nadia Oreshkova, Robert Jan Molenaar, Sandra Vreman, Frank Harders, Bas B. Oude Munnink, Renate W. Hakze‐van der Honing, Nora M. Gerhards, Paulien Tolsma, Ruth Bouwstra, Reina S. Sikkema, Mirriam G. J. Tacken, Myrna M.T. de Rooij, Eefke Weesendorp, M.Y. Engelsma, Christianne Bruschke, Lidwien A.M. Smit, Marion Koopmans, Wim HM van der Poel, Arjan Stegeman
Abstract
Respiratory disease and increased mortality occurred in minks on two farms in the Netherlands, with interstitial pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in organ and swab samples. On both farms, at least one worker had coronavirus disease-associated symptoms before the outbreak. Variations in mink-derived viral genomes showed between-mink transmission and no infection link between the farms. Inhalable dust contained viral RNA, indicating possible exposure of workers. One worker is assumed to have attracted the virus from mink.