Research and analysis

HAIRs risk assessment: SARS-CoV-2 in Mustelidae population

Qualitative assessment of the risk SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK captive or wild Mustelidae populations presents to the UK human population.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 11 November 2020
• Last updated: 20 December 2021 — See all updates

Documents

Qualitative assessment of the risk that SARS-CoV-2 infection in UK Mustelidae population presents to the UK human population

Ref: PHE publications gateway number: GOV-10686

PDF, 915 KB, 34 pages

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Details

On 4 November 2020, Danish authorities reported the emergence of a SARS-CoV-2 variant in mink and a small number of associated human cases which, on preliminary investigations, demonstrated reduced sensitivity to neutralising antibodies when tested against antibodies collected from people with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Although investigations are ongoing, these preliminary findings have raised concerns over the risk of this or other variants arising in Mustelinae species, which may potentially hamper COVID-19 intervention efforts (vaccine and therapeutics).

This risk assessment addresses:

1. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in captive Mustelinae species (such as ferrets, weasels, mink and polecats) in the UK and other potential zoonotic sources (including wild Mustelidae species such as badgers and otters) of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

2. The risk of UK’s captive Mustelinae population producing Mustelinae specific SARS-CoV-2 variants.

3. The risk of direct Mustelinae-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2. While the group recognises that if or once a Mustelinae-adapted strain infects direct human contacts there is a risk of onward, and possibly sustained, transmission within the human population, an assessment of the impact of this possibility sits outside the scope of this risk assessment.

Published 11 November 2020
Last updated 20 December 2021 + show all updates

1. 20 December 2021

   The SARS-CoV-2 in UK Mustelinae populations risk assessment has been reviewed and updated, broadening its scope to cover Mustelidae following detections of SARS-CoV-2 in badgers and otters.

2. 17 December 2021

   Updated risk assessment, broadening its scope to cover Mustelidae following detections of SARS-CoV-2 in badgers and otters.

3. 11 November 2020

   First published.