Parliamentary question - E-000624/2023Parliamentary question
E-000624/2023

Threat to public health posed by fur farms

Question for written answer  E-000624/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Pär Holmgren (Verts/ALE), Pascal Durand (S&D), Michal Wiezik (Renew), Sylwia Spurek (Verts/ALE), Ville Niinistö (Verts/ALE), Francisco Guerreiro (Verts/ALE), Maria Noichl (S&D), Margrete Auken (Verts/ALE)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became evident that fur farming poses a threat to human and animal health. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been detected on at least 480 mink fur farms across 12 countries.

Additionally, the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus was recently detected on a mink farm in Spain. Scientists found conclusive evidence that this virus had been transmitted between mink and at least one of the identified variants now favours mammal-to-mammal transmission[1].

Virologists have expressed grave concerns that, given the current prevalence of the virus in bird populations, H5N1 may be transmitted to intensively farmed mink elsewhere, creating a mechanism for a future avian influenza pandemic.

Submitted: 27.2.2023

Last updated: 6 March 2023
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