MEG KINNARD

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PUBLISHED 16 HOURS AGO

A bipartisan proposal in the U.S. House would ban the farming of mink fur in
the United States in an effort to stem possible mutations of the
coronavirus, something researchers have said can be accelerated when the
virus spreads among animals.

The bill introduced this week is an effort from Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn.,
and Nancy Mace, R-S.C. It would prohibit the import, export, transport, sale
or purchase of mink in the United States.

Researchers have said that spread of COVID-19 among animals could speed up
the number of mutations in the virus before it potentially jumps back to
people.

Last year, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued new
guidance to curb the spread of the coronavirus between minks and humans. The
agency warned that when COVID-19 starts spreading on a mink farm, the large
numbers of animal…