Norway’s Parliament has already decided to phase out its fur farming industry, so its mink population has been in decline. That’s made it easier to control, claims Agriculture Minister Olaug Bollestad, who claims Norway won’t follow Denmark in killing off minks because of Corona infection fears.
Denmark’s decision to destroy all minks, because of infection that can transfer from the animals to people and back again, prompted Member of Parliament Arne Nevra of the Socialist Left party to question whether Norway should do the same. Corona infection has also been found in mink in neighbouring Sweden.
Bollestad of the Christian Democrats responded that experts at the state agencies in charge of animal welfare and veterinary issues don’t think it’s necessary. “It’s under control, the whole way,” Bollestad told state broadcaster NRK. She noted that there are only around 40-50 mink farms left in Norway, spread over a large area.
“We have far fewer mink in than Denmark,” she said, adding that no infection has been found on mink farms in Norway. If any is found, she said, “we have measures to control it.”
newsinenglish.no staff
