A chilling new discovery has emerged from China’s fur farming industry, sparking concerns about the next potential pandemic that could rival the COVID-19 crisis. Scientists have identified dozens of high-risk viruses circulating among animals bred for their fur in China, including new strains with the potential to jump from animals to humans. These findings underscore the urgent need for stricter biosafety protocols and intensified surveillance in fur farming operations to prevent a global catastrophe.

New killer viruses found in Chinese fur farms

A groundbreaking study has uncovered a disturbing array of viruses in fur farms across China. Researchers sequenced RNA and DNA from tissue samples collected from animals such as mink, raccoon dogs, and guinea pigs. They identified 125 viruses in total, 36 of which were completely new to science. These previously unknown viruses were found in species that have never been identified as hosts before. For instance, the Japanese encephalitis virus was detected in guinea pigs, and a norovirus strain was found in mink. Alarmingly, a new HKU5-like coronavirus, previously known only to exist in bats, was detected in mink. This virus has the potential to adapt to human cells and spread among people, similar to the pathway that led to the global spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Fur farms as ‘viral highways’

The research highlights the grave danger posed by fur farms, which operate as “viral highways,” allowing viruses to jump from wild animals to humans. In the study, the researchers noted that fur farms could become breeding grounds for zoonotic diseases due to the close contact between various species. This could facilitate the mutation and transmission of viruses, some of which have a high potential to adapt to human hosts. Virologist Michael Letko of Washington State University emphasized that some newly discovered viruses could bind to the human ACE2 receptor, the same receptor that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses to infect humans.

Experts urge action to avoid another pandemic

Experts around the globe are urging immediate action in response to these findings. The high-risk viruses identified in the study were predominantly found in mink and raccoon dogs—species already known to harbor zoonotic viruses. The researchers call for increased surveillance, strict biosafety measures, and potentially even the shutdown of fur farms to prevent another pandemic. They argue that while direct evidence of these viruses infecting humans is currently lacking, the highest risk of a new pathogen emerging comes from the animal industry, particularly in settings like fur farms where interspecies transmission is more likely.

Lessons from COVID-19 and the wildlife trade

The discovery of these viruses comes at a time when the world is still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, believed to have originated from bats and transmitted to humans through the wildlife trade. The potential for fur farms to act as conduits for similar zoonotic transmissions is now drawing increased scrutiny from the scientific community. Edward Holmes, a prominent virologist, strongly believes that the wildlife trade played a crucial role in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and warns that the fur farming industry could similarly lead to another pandemic if stringent controls are not put in place.

Expert opinions: The looming threat of new pandemics

Public health experts are alarmed by the findings. The risk of zoonotic spillover—where viruses jump from animals to humans—is not just theoretical. The detection of these viruses, particularly in high-risk species such as mink and raccoon dogs, shows how fur farms can serve as breeding grounds for the next pandemic. The fact that 36 of the viruses identified were completely new emphasizes how much remains unknown about these potential pathogens. Experts stress that more research is needed to determine how these viruses might evolve and adapt to infect humans, and that immediate steps must be taken to mitigate these risks before it is too late.

  China, Edward Holmes, fur farming, Michael Letko, Nature journal, pandemic prevention, public health, viruses, Washington State University, zoonotic diseases