Denmark's attempt to limit the spread of a coronavirus strain found in its farmed-mink population has led to a political controversy after its decision to cull up to 17 million of the animals.
Twelve human cases of infection were found in September with a "cluster 5" variant also found in the minks, authorities reported. Coronavirus variants have also been discovered among farm-raised minks elsewhere. The Danish discovery raised worries that transmission from minks back to humans could result in strains that will be more resistant to the treatments and vaccines under development.
The country's agriculture minister resigned Nov. 18, after the government conceded it had no legal basis for ordering the mass cull. The Danish Parliament approved a ban on mink breeding through the end of next year. "They have killed the whole industry,” a farmer told the Financial Times.