Multiple viruses, some of which are new and have the potential to jump to humans, have been detected at fur farms in China. Edward Holmes, a virologist who has conducted research into Covid-19, stated that the fur farming industry is one of the “most likely” ways by which a new pandemic will begin, AFP reported. He emphasised, “I strongly believe that the wildlife trade was responsible for the emergence of Sars-CoV-2 (the Covid-19 virus).”
Background
Holmes was one of the authors of a new study in Nature, which examined the danger posed by fur farms in China, where the first Covid-19 cases apparently emerged. The team of researchers, led by mainland Chinese scientists, took genetic material from the lungs and intestines of 461 animals, including minks, rabbits, foxes, and raccoon dogs, and sequenced them. Most of these animals were from fur farms, while some were farmed for food and traditional medicine, and 50 were wild animals. All of the animals had died of diseases from 2021 to 2024. The researchers found 125 viruses, including 36 new ones, and identified 39 viruses with a high risk of spilling over into humans, 13 of which were new.
125 viruses, including 36 new ones detected
The study identified seven types of coronaviruses, although none were closely related to Sars-CoV-2. Other viruses included three subtypes of influenza A and several types of bird flu. Holmes expressed particular concern about a “Pipistrellus bat HKU5-like virus,” which was previously detected in bats but found in the lungs of two farmed minks. He noted that the virus’s jump from bats to farmed mink should raise “alarm bells.” This virus is also a relative of the Middle East respiratory syndrome virus (Mers), which is fatal to humans.
Seven types of coronaviruses found
In 2020, Denmark decided to cull its farmed mink population of 17 million after discovering a mutated Covid-19 strain on the farms. A total of 12 people were found to have been infected by the mutated strain. Mink production was allowed to resume on 1 January 2023 at a “significantly reduced” level, according to the Associated Press.
Implications for future pandemics
The findings from this study underscore the potential for fur farms to act as breeding grounds for new viruses that could jump to humans, posing significant public health risks. The detection of multiple viruses, including new ones, highlights the need for stringent monitoring and regulation of the fur farming industry. The historical context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent resumption of mink farming in Denmark further illustrate the ongoing risks associated with animal-to-human virus transmission. Future implications may include increased surveillance and possibly more stringent biosecurity measures to prevent another pandemic from emerging through similar pathways.
