Jakarta, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Researchers have discovered dozens of new viruses in animals on fur farms in China, some of which have the potential to infect humans.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have increasingly warned about the dangers of farming mammals like minks for fur, as it may facilitate the transmission of new viruses from wildlife, potentially leading to new outbreaks.
Edward Holmes, a virologist who previously led studies on COVID-19, is one of the co-authors of a new study examining the dangers posed by viruses found on fur farms.
Holmes stated that the global fur farming industry is “one of the most likely ways to start a new pandemic,” and called for its closure, citing the serious risk it poses.
The research team, led by scientists in China, sequenced genetic material from the lungs and intestines of 461 animals—including minks, rabbits, foxes, and raccoon dogs—that had died from diseases between 2021 and 2024. Most of these animals were raised on fur farms, with some bred for food or traditional medicine. Around 50 of the sampled animals were wild. The study, published in the journal Nature, identified 125 viruses, 36 of which are new.
According to the researchers, 39 of these viruses carry a “high risk” of cross-species transmission, potentially infecting humans. While some viruses, such as hepatitis E and Japanese encephalitis, are already known to have spread to humans, 13 are newly identified.
The study also found multiple strains of bird flu in marmots, minks, and muskrats, along with seven coronaviruses. However, none of these coronaviruses were closely related to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
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The researchers emphasized the importance of increased surveillance of fur-farm animals like minks, raccoon dogs, and marmots, as they were found to carry viruses with the highest risk to humans. This study highlights the ongoing threat of zoonotic diseases and the need for stricter monitoring to prevent future pandemics.
(Ray)
