Both Humans & Animals Have Now Caught COVID-19 Due To BC's Mink Farm Outbreak

Following the news of a COVID-19 outbreak at a B.C. mink farm, animals at the farm were sent for testing to determine if it was being passed between humans and mink. 

The Government of B.C. has now confirmed that several mink have, in fact, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans.

After eight workers tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, "mink samples were collected and submitted to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in Winnipeg," explains a news release sent to Narcity. 

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The results were expected, considering the interaction between infected workers and mink on the farm. Province of B.C.

As of now, " Testing to determine genome sequencing and the strain of the virus continues," says the release. Results should be available next week. 

The province's chief veterinarian has placed restrictions on the farm and has put plans in place for the safe feeding and care of the animals. 

"The outbreak at this farm is not considered to pose a health risk to other mink farms," the release notes. 

While this may sound eerily familiar following a mass cull of infected mink in Denmark, an expert told CTV News that this is nothing like that outbreak. 

Canada has about 60 mink farms compared to Denmark's 1,100, said the expert.