SARS-CoV-2 mutations among minks show reduced lethality and infectivity to humans

SARS-CoV-2 infection in minks has become a serious problem, as the virus may mutate and reinfect humans; some countries have decided to cull minks. Here, the virus sequencing data in minks were analysed and compared to those of human-virus. Although the mink-virus maintained the characteristics of human-virus, some variants rapidly mutated, adapting to minks. Some mink-derived variants infected humans, which accounted for 40% of the total SARS-CoV-2 cases in the Netherlands. These variants appear to be less lethal and infective compared to those in humans. Variants that have mutated further among minks were not found in humans. Such mink-viruses might be suitable for vaccination for humans, such as in the case of the smallpox virus, which is less infective and toxic to humans.

Automated summary

In minks infected with SARS-CoV-2, some variants rapidly mutated and adapted to the animals, with some of these mink-derived variants infecting humans. These variants appeared to be less lethal and infective compared to those in humans, and may be suitable for human vaccination, similar to the less infectious and toxic smallpox virus.