Respiratory disease and increased mortality occurred in minks on two farms in the Netherlands, with interstitial pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in organ and swab samples. On both farms, at least one worker had coronavirus disease-associated symptoms before the outbreak. Variations in mink-derived viral genomes showed between-mink transmission and no infection link between the farms. Inhalable dust contained viral RNA, indicating possible exposure of workers. One worker is assumed to have attracted the virus from mink.

Impacts• Veterinary overuse of antimicrobials contributes to the selection and spread of antimicrobial resistance which poses a public health risk.• A series of events and discoveries of significant reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant pathogens in the Netherlands resulted in a successful collaboration between government and stakeholders to reduce antimicrobial use in farm animals.• Total use of antimicrobials in farm animals in the Netherlands decreased with 56% in the period 2007-2012.

In April 2020, respiratory disease and increased mortality were observed in farmed mink on two farms in the Netherlands. In both farms, at least one worker had been found positive for SARS-CoV-2. Necropsies of the mink revealed interstitial pneumonia, and organ and swab samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by qPCR. Variations in viral genomes point at between-mink transmission on the farms and lack of infection link between the farms. Inhalable dust in the mink houses contained viral RNA, indicating possible exposure of workers.

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