A recent study published in *Nature* highlights the potential risks associated with animals raised for fur, food, or traditional medicine. Animals such as raccoon dogs, minks, and muskrats, which are commonly farmed for their fur, have been found to harbor numerous viruses, some of which could pose significant threats to human health. The study suggests that these animals might act as reservoirs for emerging pathogens, potentially leading to new pandemics.
Researchers analyzed samples from 461 animals that had died of disease on fur farms in China between 2021 and 2024. The animals included minks, raccoon dogs, foxes, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Tissue samples from the lungs, intestines, and other organs were examined for viral pathogens, revealing a total of 125 different viruses, 36 of which were previously unknown. Alarmingly, 39 of these viruses were classified as high-risk due to their potential for cross-species transmission to humans. Among the detected viruses were several strains of influenza A, such as H1N2, H5N6, and H6N2, found in guinea pigs, minks, and muskrats. Additionally, multiple coronaviruses were identified, including seven different species, though none were closely related to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
As reported by health.economictimes.indiatimes.com, one particularly alarming finding was the detection of the “Pipistrellus bat HKU5-like virus” in two minks. This virus, previously known only in bats, is closely related to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, which can be fatal to humans. The discovery that it has jumped from bats to farmed minks raises serious concerns. Edward Holmes, a virologist from the University of Sydney who co-authored the study, stressed the importance of monitoring this virus closely to prevent potential outbreaks. “The fact that it has moved from bats to farmed mink is a major red flag,” Holmes told AFP.
The study also identified known zoonotic viruses, such as hepatitis E and Japanese encephalitis, in some of the farmed animals. These viruses have previously been transmitted to humans, underscoring the risks associated with fur farming. The research also noted potential virus transmission between farmed and wild animals, as well as from humans to farmed animals. Given the rising concern over zoonotic diseases—diseases transmitted from animals to humans—especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings underscore the role of fur farms as critical points for viral spillovers. The researchers are calling for enhanced surveillance of animals on fur farms to mitigate these risks.