Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 November 2020
246. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to a mink cull in Denmark linked to a mutated strain of Covid-19 that has been shown to be transmissible to humans; the actions he will take with regard to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35511/20]
View answerThe collaborative One Health approach to disease management which is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is an integral part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) strategy to deal with new and emerging diseases with zoonotic potential. The Department also has engaged with the European Commission and is working closely with the Public Health Authorities, including the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE monitoring national and international developments in relation to SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The Department has been following closely developments worldwide in relation to Covid-19 in animals, including mink. Since June, the Danes had implemented a phased response to controlling the spread of the disease with a limited cull of infected farms. The recent developments in Denmark in relation to potential impact on future vaccine efficacy is of concern.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been in close cooperation with colleagues in the Department of Health, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE monitoring national and international developments in relation to SARS-CoV-2 virus in animals. DAFM has had ongoing engagement with the mink farms since early summer. No mink have been imported into Ireland during 2020. Whilst there is no current suspicion of disease in mink in Ireland, DAFM will test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in each of the three farms as part of enhanced surveillance. Like all surveillance programmes, the issue will be kept under constant review.
With regard to COVID-19 and animals generally, the Department has produced awareness material in relation to COVID-19 for animal owners, including a Frequently Asked Question Document which includes advice for example in situations where an animal requires care or exercise in a household where someone has COVID-19 or is restricting their movement or self-isolating in line with HSE advice. This is available to view on the dedicated COVID hub of the Department website.
