New guidance for ferret owners amid fears more animals could catch coronavirus mutation

Warning follows cull of millions of mink

The government’s scientific advisers are drawing up advice for ferret owners amid fears a mutated version of Covid-19 found in mink could leap to other animals.  

Denmark is culling millions of mink in a bid to limit the spread of the disease.  

But experts fear the coronavirus mutation could be found in other animals such as rats, mice and ferrets as well as mink.  

Newly published documents show the Sage scientific advisory group are concerned the virus could be identified in ferrets in the UK.  

The documents warn: "The mutations observed in virus isolates from mink have also been observed in virus from ferrets. ...Defra is assessing the risk to people in the UK and developing messaging for ferret owners.”  

The experts also called for greater surveillance of animal populations and more research into how the mutations could affect humans.