SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Escaped Mink, Utah, USA
Outbreak, rodents, Fur, Farm, Neovison vison, American mink
In August 2020, outbreaks of coronavirus disease were confirmed on mink farms in Utah, USA. We surveyed mammals captured on and around farms for evidence of infection or exposure. Free-ranging mink, presumed domestic escapees, exhibited high antibody titers, suggesting a potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission pathway to native wildlife.
Susan A. Shriner, Jeremy W. Ellis, J. Jeffrey Root, Annette Roug, Scott R. Stopak, Gerald W. Wiscomb, Jared R. Zierenberg, Hon S. Ip, Mia K. Torchetti, Thomas J. DeLiberto
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Medicine, Infectious and parasitic diseases