A recent study warns that fur farms could be breeding grounds for viruses that might jump to humans, potentially sparking future pandemics. Animals like mink, raccoons, and foxes are commonly farmed for their fur in places like China and Europe, where millions of pelts are produced annually.

Virus Discovery in Fur Animals

The study analyzed samples from over 460 animals, revealing 125 viruses, including 36 that were previously unknown. Several viruses were discovered in species not typically associated with them, like Japanese encephalitis virus in guinea pigs and norovirus in mink. A bat-related coronavirus, found in mink, underscores the risk of fur farms acting as viral highways between wildlife and humans.

High-Risk Virus Carriers

Mink and raccoon dogs carried the most high-risk viruses, some of which may adapt to human cells, similar to how SARS-CoV-2 spread. Experts are calling for better biosafety measures, including quarantines and waste management, to prevent dangerous pathogens from spreading through fur farms.

Read the full story in Nature: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02871-y

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References

Zhao, J. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07901-3 (2024).

Kan, B. et al. J. Virol. 79, 11892–11900 (2005).

Freuling, C. M. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 26, 2982–2985 (2020).

Catanzaro, N. J. et al. Preprint at bioRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.13.584892 (2024)