"Governor Herbert and the Utah Department of Agriculture are determined to protect the profits of the cruel and dying fur farming industry rather than protecting the public health of all Utahns."
On December 10, the Utah State Records Committee will hear an
“expedited” appeal regarding the Utah Department of Agriculture and
Food (UDAF)’s denial of access to records related to ongoing
COVID-19 outbreaks on several Utah mink farms. Recent peer-reviewed
scientific research demonstrates that mink on fur farms act as
dangerous reservoirs for the virus that infects humans with
COVID-19. The animals can even be a source of viral mutations that
make the virus more transmissible and evasive of the vaccines that
are about to roll out. Citing the significant public health threat,
nearly all European nations with mink industries have ordered mink
culled and farms closed. In contrast, mink breeding season is about
start on Utah farms.
UDAF has denied UARC access to virtually all records, including the
locations of the outbreaks, correspondence with outside regulatory
agencies, and talks UDAF has had with representatives of the fur
farming industry. UDAF claims in its denial that releasing the
information may encourage illegal releases of mink, citing an
incident earlier this year in Morgan “where potentially infected
mink have been stolen by individuals for release.” UARC maintains
that state law requires the records’ release.
“Governor Herbert and the Utah Department of Agriculture are
determined to protect the profits of the cruel and dying fur farming
industry rather than protecting the public health of all Utahns who
need an effective vaccine,” said Jeremy Beckham, MPH, Executive
Director for UARC. “There is significant public interest in
understanding which communities in Utah are threatened with COVID-19
outbreaks and how the state is handling this crisis. The state of
Utah cannot keep secret its response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the
behest of private industry.”