EFSA’s animal health specialists have contributed to a rapid assessment of the risk to human health from the new SARS-CoV-2 variants related to mink.

The assessment contains a number of recommendations aimed at protecting public health and it was carried out after Denmark reported 214 cases of humans infected with SARS-CoV-2 variants related to mink.

Nikolaus Kriz, head of EFSA’s Animal Health and Welfare Unit, said: “While the risk of cross-border spread of these SARS-CoV-2 variants through animals and their products is very low, it is important that people avoid close contact with farmed mink. Additional surveillance measures are necessary to limit further spread.”

Source: EFSA