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SARS-CoV-2 in animals used for fur farming

GLEWS+ Risk assessment (20 January 2021)

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 26 p.

Author FAO, OIE, WHO

Publisher FAO, OIE, WHO ;

Product type Booklet

ISBN 978-92-5-133972-5

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in humans in December 2019 and has since affected almost 68 million people causing over 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Animal-to-human and animal-to-animal transmission has been documented within farmed minks in several countries. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in a farmed mink population in a number of countries. Some of the affected farms reported also workers SARS-CoV-2 infection and it is hypothesized that the mink farms were infected through human-mink transmission proving SARS-CoV-2 capability of reverse zoonosis. This Tripartite Risk Assessment, as a joint effort under the GLEWS+ initiative, completed with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), evaluates the risk of introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 within fur farming systems as well as whether farmed fur animals could play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to humans via spillover. Additionally, using a One Health approach, the Tripartite evaluated the risk of the escaped minks leading to the establishment of a viral reservoir in susceptible wildlife populations. This work provides guidance to Members on this newly emerging threat.

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Cite this content as:

FAO, OIE, WHO. 2021. SARS-CoV-2 in animals used for fur farming – GLEWS+ Risk assessment (20 January 2021)​. Rome.



Language English

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