Outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in minks: public health, environmental and bioethical perspectives

Abstract

The outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in mink farms present critical public health, environmental, and bioethical challenges. These outbreaks underscore the potential for the virus to mutate within animal populations, raising concerns over the emergence of new variants capable of infecting a broader range of species and posing a threat of mink-to-human transmission. The conditions on mink farms, marked by high-density populations and poor welfare standards, exacerbate these risks and require a thorough reevaluation of current practices. This paper highlights the ongoing relevance of the fur industry amid an evolving viral threat. Despite initial stringent biosecurity measures, epidemiological surveillance of COVID-19 in humans and minks has diminished, increasing the risk for cryptic viral circulation and evolution in nonhuman hosts, including minks, with unpredictable outcomes for public health. Mink farming poses a potential continuous zoonotic threat and has significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. The present work delves into the bioethical implications of mink farming during the pandemic, emphasizing the moral considerations of animal welfare in the context of industrial farming. The documented high mortality rates and poor living conditions of minks necessitate a reassessment of the ethical foundations of the fur industry. The paper advocates for enhanced biosecurity protocols, routine health surveillance, and adopting an integrated One Health perspective, which highlights the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health.