SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19,
United States of America
Information received on 16/11/2020 from Dr Mark Davidson, Associate Administrator, USDA-APHIS, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of America
Summary
Report type Follow-up report No. 25
Date of start of the event 27/03/2020
Date of confirmation of the event 04/04/2020
Report date 16/11/2020
Date submitted to OIE 16/11/2020
Reason for notification Emerging disease
Morbidity 2 (scale 0 to 5)
Mortality 1 (scale 0 to 5)
Zoonotic impact Zoonotic potential currently unknown
Causal agent SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19
Related reports Immediate notification (04/05/2020)
Follow-up report No. 1 (17/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 2 (22/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 3 (29/04/2020)
Follow-up report No. 4 (02/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 5 (03/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 6 (10/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 7 (25/06/2020)
Follow-up report No. 8 (02/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 9 (09/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 10 (17/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 11 (23/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 12 (30/07/2020)
Follow-up report No. 13 (05/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 14 (13/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 15 (20/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 16 (27/08/2020)
Follow-up report No. 17 (02/09/2020)
Follow-up report No. 18 (10/09/2020)
Follow-up report No. 19 (24/09/2020)
Follow-up report No. 20 (02/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 21 (09/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 22 (16/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 23 (30/10/2020)
Follow-up report No. 24 (06/11/2020)
Follow-up report No. 25 (16/11/2020)
Follow-up report No. 26 (27/11/2020)
New outbreaks (4)
Outbreak 1 Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak 08/10/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 3000 373 0 0
Affected population Domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm
Outbreak 2 Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Date of start of the outbreak 19/10/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 22500 2200 0 0
Affected population Domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm
Outbreak 3 Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak 22/10/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 13200 585 0 0
Affected population Domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm
Outbreak 4 Utah, Utah
Date of start of the outbreak 25/10/2020
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 38000 739 0 0
Affected population Domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) on a commercial farm
Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 4
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) 76700 ** 3897 0 0
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
American Mink:Neovison vison(Mustelidae) ** 5.08% ** 5.08%
*Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
**Not calculated because of missing information
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Suspected human transmission
Epidemiological comments 16 Nov 2020 Update-- Alabama (AL): A second cat from Lee County who was housemates to the confirmed positive cat case has been confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon PCR and virus neutralization (VN) testing. The other two cats in the household have also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralizing antibodies. Tennessee (TN): The third exposed Malayan tiger at a zoo was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing). All tigers are progressively recovering and were removed from public exhibition at the onset of clinical signs. There are no other suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2 in any animals from the zoo at this time. Wisconsin (WI): Following increased mortality rates, domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) from one commercial premises was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing results (PCR and sequencing) and meeting case definition. Clinical signs included inappetence and sudden death. State Officials in Wisconsin have quarantined the premises and are working closely with federal One Health partners to monitor the situation. Mink mortality rates on the premises have since decreased, returning to normal levels. Please note: To protect confidentiality of any data related to human cases, the location used for this outbreak is that of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WI VDL), where animal samples were first tested. Utah (UT): Following increased mortality rates, domestic American Mink (Neovison vison) from three commercial premises were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based upon molecular testing (PCR and sequencing) and meeting case definition. Clinical signs included mild respiratory signs, inappetence and sudden death. One affected premises reported a positive case of COVID-19 in a person that was in contact with the mink. State Officials in Utah have quarantined all premises and are working closely with federal One Health partners to monitor the situation. Mink mortality rates on all premises have since decreased, returning to normal levels. Please note: To protect confidentiality of any data related to human cases, the location used for this outbreak is that of the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UVDL), where animal testing samples were first collected. Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic mink from the United States have now been identified on 15 commercial premises. Due to limitations with the WAHIS system, the map notation indicates disease outbreaks in wild mink, however the affected populations are domesticated American Mink (Neovison vison) from commercial premises as stated above.
Control measures
Measures applied
  • Quarantine
  • Disinfection
  • Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures
Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink gene sequencing 30/10/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink gene sequencing 05/11/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 30/10/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) American Mink real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 05/11/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 12/11/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Cats virus neutralisation test (VNT) 12/11/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Tiger gene sequencing 06/11/2020 Positive
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (National laboratory) Tiger real-time reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) 06/11/2020 Positive
Future Reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.
Map of outbreak locations