Virus Outbreak Reported Among Animals and Staff at Oregon Mink Farm

An Oregon mink farm has reported an outbreak of COVID-19 among animals and staff.

The Statesman Journal reports the farm has been placed under quarantine, meaning no animals or animal products can leave the farm.

The state has not said where the farm is located, how many animals the farm has, when the farmer reported the illnesses, or when the animals were tested.

Ten samples from mink have come back positive for SARS-CoV-2, the animal virus linked to COVID-19 in humans, ODA said. The farm also is reporting cases of COVID-19 in staff.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture recommended the farmer and staff self-isolate.

Outbreaks in farmed mink have been reported in several states and countries.

Earlier this month Denmark announced it would kill all 17 million of the mink raised there after confirmation that 12 people had been infected with a mutated strain of COVID-19 that had spread from mink to humans.