Coronavirus thread

[Karl Henning]

Northern Jutland, where this mutation (cluster 5) has been found in 5 mink-farms and 12 humans, has been closed very much down. We (I live there) are not allowed to leave our commune for the next four weeks, unless we have a critical funktion. Restaurants are closed, public transport discontinued et.c. and the aim is to test all inhabitants and analyse  the RNA sequence of all positive tests to find the ones with cluster 5.

Warm thoughts, my friend!

[prémont]

Warm thoughts, my friend!

Thanks xery much. 

[prémont]

All the best from here ...
hopefully the mass testing and accompanying efforts will succeed, and rather quickly. At least it's not an introduced curfew. But if they find it spread all over the country, we might be in for further measures nationwide, unless they give up. But WHO today said that it might not represent a vaccine problem anyway. Confusing info at times ...

Many thanks.

The problem is that we do not know that much about these mink mutations and have to act on a possible risk. Statens Seruminstitut has done much to investigate the subject, already for some time having made RNA sequence analysis of the tests of 14% of the people  infected with mink mutations (that's cluster 1,2,3,4 and 5) and also investigating their antigene properties. But the investigation takes time, much investigation is waiting ahead . WHO and the European centre for disease control have got the preliminary results of the Seruminstitut, and it will be interesting to see if these mutations have been found in other countries, particularly in minks. But as Mølbak said, other countries generally don't  do as many analyzes of mink mutations as we do in Denmark.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yes, the humans to mink transition was originally the case here, but then it reversed too. That's the result of studies here.
Thanks. Of course, we all hope for a relative normalization, including options to travel around and abroad a bit next year ...

Sorry, it's been a busy day here, but I just wanted to clarify:  So, 1) did the workers get a different strain of the virus? and 2) are they certain re the chain of events that they received it necessarily from the minks?

PD

Thanks xery much. 

Sorry, I'm playing catchup at the moment and am still trying to look into the news; in any event, please be safe premont! 

Best wishes to all,

PD

[vandermolen]

There's no cloud without a silver lining. I just received an email from the school to inform me that as a teacher I get a 10% discount on my shopping at the local Morrisons supermarket. Saved me £6.00 yesterday. Whoopy-doo! 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

There's no cloud without a silver lining. I just received an email from the school to inform me that as a teacher I get a 10% discount on my shopping at the local Morrisons supermarket. Saved me £6.00 yesterday. Whoopy-doo! 

Yeah!!! Happy for you!

So, you're virtually back?

PD

[prémont]

Sorry, it's been a busy day here, but I just wanted to clarify:  So, 1) did the workers get a different strain of the virus? and 2) are they certain re the chain of events that they received it necessarily from the minks?

1) It isn't published which people have got the cluster 5 variant.

2) We are told by the health authorities that it is certain it originated in minks. i don't know, how they can be sure, but they are.

please be safe premont! 

Thanks, the same to you.

[MusicTurner]

I did some local checking, and originally, a mink corona virus was found in June, originating from humans working on that farm, but slightly changed in the mink. The animals are very receptive to the virus, and infected people can unknowingly infect others, or the animals, for a week or so. The type was found in animals on three farms, that were culled.

The mink-related type was then shortly afterwards found in 90 people locally, and in a few people in Croatia, who had worked on the farms, however fewer people were being tested back then. But initially, no further farms were found infected, based on a detailed investigation on 10% of all farms in Denmark, that is, 125 of about 1250. This would change however, and soon afterwards, a few further farms were then found infected, most likely it was now humans who brought back the virus to mink farms. Infected farms were mostly just a few km apart, so various transfer options exist (including people, or animals such as birds, sea-gulls, etc.)

(( https://www.ssi.dk/-/media/arkiv/dk/aktuelt/sygdomsudbrud/covid19/besvarelse-virkemidler-til-at-forebygge-smitte-mink-menneske.pdf?la=da ))

In spite of various measures and attempted precautions, the number of infected mink farms had risen in early November to 216. Five virus variations have been found (type Cluster 1-5), and the 'Cluster 5'-type has 4 major changes, that could reduce a vaccine's and also the general human immunity system's effectiveness. That type has been found on 5 farms, and in 12 people (according to information from the 5th of November), all in the Northern Jutland region, and only in the months August-September so far, in spite of tests carried on until mid-October. Overall, mink-related virus was found in 214 persons, of 5102 screenings. 200 of them were in Northern Jutland, out of 535 screenings there, until mid-October.

(( https://www.ssi.dk/aktuelt/nyheder/2020/mutationer-i-minkvirus ))

[Biffo]

Oh my God!    1) I hadn't realized that they were so susceptible to the virus and 2) Couldn't they release them some how or another?  Or figure out something else? 

PD

Periodically, here in the UK animal rights activists have raided mink farms and set them loose. The result has been devastating for the local wildlife - minks are vicious predators.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Periodically, here in the UK animal rights activists have raided mink farms and set them loose. The result has been devastating for the local wildlife - minks are vicious predators.

Sorry to hear that Biffo.     The local wildlife certainly shouldn't have to suffer mankind's stupidity (at both ends).

One thing that has crossed my mind more than once:  considering the conditions that they've been kept in (and perhaps due also to how they have been bred?), the food, etc., what do you (meaning a plural you here) think that the chances are that all of this has made them much more susceptible to disease...particularly to the corona virus?

Note:  I was also shocked to hear how many minks there were at these farms and how many farms there were too--just even in Denmark.

PD

[Karl Henning]

There's no cloud without a silver lining. I just received an email from the school to inform me that as a teacher I get a 10% discount on my shopping at the local Morrisons supermarket. Saved me £6.00 yesterday. Whoopy-doo! 

Better than a kick in the head

[Karl Henning]

Periodically, here in the UK animal rights activists have raided mink farms and set them loose. The result has been devastating for the local wildlife - minks are vicious predators.

Selective about which animals' rights, are they?

[MusicTurner]

For example, a mink is much of a solitary animal, they aren't naturally inclined to the 'social density' at farms, where several animals live in a small cage. It's not like their natural habitat. Stress makes them bite and fight each other, resulting in open wounds. And being passively fed and having little space for physical exercise probably changes (and weakens?) their general physique too.

[Karl Henning]

For example, a mink is much of a solitary animal, they aren't naturally inclined to the 'social density' at farms, where several animals live in a small cage. It's not like their natural habitat. Stress makes them bite and fight each other, resulting in open wounds. And being passively fed and having little space for physical exercise probably changes (and weakens?) their general physique too.

Of course.

[vandermolen]

Yeah!!! Happy for you!

So, you're virtually back?

PD

No, I'm actually back PD on Wednesday.

[vandermolen]

Warm thoughts, my friend!

+1

[prémont]

+1

Thanks. I shall stay indoors almost all the time. Fortunately I have lots of music to listen to. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

No, I'm actually back PD on Wednesday.

Huh?!  I had thought that they had suspended in-person classes again?

PD

[vandermolen]

Huh?!  I had thought that they had suspended in-person classes again?

PD

No PD. During the first lockdown in March the schools were closed and I had to teach remotely from home (a nightmare for a technophobe) but this time the schools are being kept open as it's felt that closing them will have a very detrimental effect on children's education and mental health. Although my Union opposes keeping the schools open I'm inclined to agree with it myself. I know this sounds like 'famous last words' but the transmission rate in this part of England is comparatively low - however, we are all wearing masks around the school and there is hand sanitiser everywhere. Also, I'm dosed up on Vitamin D tablets!

On a separate note I gather that Joe Biden's father came from Sussex. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

No PD. During the first lockdown in March the schools were closed and I had to teach remotely from home (a nightmare for a technophobe) but this time the schools are being kept open as it's felt that closing them will have a very detrimental effect on children's education and mental health. Although my Union opposes keeping the schools open I'm inclined to agree with it myself. I know this sounds like 'famous last words' but the transmission rate in this part of England is comparatively low - however, we are all wearing masks around the school and there is hand sanitiser everywhere. Also, I'm dosed up on Vitamin D tablets!

On a separate note I gather that Joe Biden's father came from Sussex. 

Well, I hope that you all stay safe and well!  Regarding in-class teaching, is this true all over England?  What about in the rest of the UK?

PD