LANSING, Mich. — A mink at a Michigan farm has tested positive for COVID-19, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said Friday.
It’s the first confirmed case of the virus among Michigan’s farmed mink population, though other cases among minks had previously been found in the U.S., according to a news release.
The owner of the farm submitted samples for diagnosis after several mink showed signs of illness and died.
Officials are still investigating how the mink contracted the virus, but say there’s no evidence that animals – including mink – play a significant role in spreading COVID-19 to humans in Michigan.
The farm where the case was found is self-contained, has few staff and doesn’t allow domestic animals onsite.
Other cases of the virus in mink in the U.S. were found in Utah and Wisconsin.