Thumbnail Image

SARS-CoV-2 in animals used for fur farming

GLEWS+ Risk assessment (20 January 2021)

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 26 p.

Author FAO, OIE, WHO

Publisher FAO, OIE, WHO ;

Product type Booklet

ISBN 978-92-5-133972-5

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) SARS-CoV-2 was first identified in humans in December 2019 and has since affected almost 68 million people causing over 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Animal-to-human and animal-to-animal transmission has been documented within farmed minks in several countries. SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in a farmed mink population in a number of countries. Some of the affected farms reported also workers SARS-CoV-2 infection and it is hypothesized that the mink farms were infected through human-mink transmission proving SARS-CoV-2 capability of reverse zoonosis. This Tripartite Risk Assessment, as a joint effort under the GLEWS+ initiative, completed with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), evaluates the risk of introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 within fur farming systems as well as whether farmed fur animals could play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to humans via spillover. Additionally, using a One Health approach, the Tripartite evaluated the risk of the escaped minks leading to the establishment of a viral reservoir in susceptible wildlife populations. This work provides guidance to Members on this newly emerging threat.

See the full list of policy briefs related to COVID-19.

Cite this content as:

FAO, OIE, WHO. 2021. SARS-CoV-2 in animals used for fur farming – GLEWS+ Risk assessment (20 January 2021)​. Rome.



Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Recommendations for the epidemiological investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in exposed animals
    SARS-CoV-2 detection in farmed and companion animals
    2021
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Acknowledging the zoonotic nature of SARS-CoV-2, investigations about potential animal hosts are of great importance to improve understanding of COVID-19 epidemiology and identify susceptible animal species as well as possible transmission between humans and animals. Positive findings by a polymerase chain reaction in dogs, cats, farmed mink, and wild feline in zoos have raised concerns about the possible role livestock and companion animals could play in the amplification and spread of the virus. Several studies looking at the binding affinity of SARS-CoV-2 receptor in different animal species hypothesized a probable wide range of animal hosts especially mammals. Field studies need to be undertaken now, in the short term, while virus circulation in humans is ongoing in different parts of the world. A thorough One Health investigation is recommended by FAO for events where livestock and companion animals are in close contact to confirmed human COVID-19 cases, or in situations where animals tested SARS-CoV-2 positive in absence of information on the infection status of in-contact humans. By jointly analyzing laboratory and epidemiological information on human and animal cases collected by public health and veterinary services, so-called 4-way linking, our understanding of the epidemiology of COVID-19 and potential transmission between humans and animals will be greatly enhanced.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Research gaps and needs on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and other emerging zoonotic coronaviruses
    Report of the quadripartite technical meeting, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 27–29 November 2023
    2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    A global technical meeting was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 27 to 29 November 2023 and organized as a Quadripartite event by including the United National Environment Programme (UNEP). Coorganizers of the meeting were EMRO and the Saudi Public Health Authority (PHA), with support from the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH). This report presents the summary and findings of this technical meeting.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Investigating potential recombination of MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses in camels
    Supplementary recommendations for the epidemiological investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in exposed animals
    2021
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Dromedary camels are the main reservoir for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Genetic analysis of MERS-CoV isolates from humans and dromedaries revealed that direction of transmission is from camels to humans. Furthermore, several studies reported evidence of camel infection by other human CoVs, animal CoVs or unknown coronaviruses. There is evidence of recombination between different betacoronaviruses in camels. Analysis of the Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) binding in dromedaries predicted potential binding affinity to the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor binding domain (RBD), however some other studies predicted the contrary. With the pandemic spread of SARS-CoV-2, it is not a matter of if but rather when camels will be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in these countries. Co-circulation of both viruses in the same host can favour virus recombination, and may lead to increased virulence in animals and/or humans if the recombinant virus incorporates pathogenicity of MERS-CoV with the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2. Further investigations into camel susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, the possibility for recombination between MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 or other coronaviruses in camels, and the associated zoonotic potential are therefore urgently required to ensure early-detection of such events.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.