Cluster 5 facts for kids
Cluster 5 was a special type of coronavirus that caused COVID-19. Scientists also called it ΔFVI-spike. It is believed to have disappeared completely.
This variant was found in November 2020 in North Jutland, Denmark. It is thought to have spread from minks on mink farms to people. After it was found, many minks in Denmark were culled (humanely killed). This was done to stop the virus from spreading and to prevent new changes to the virus.
A lockdown and travel rules were put in place in seven areas of North Jutland. This was to stop Cluster 5 from spreading. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that Cluster 5 might make COVID-19 vaccines a bit less effective. However, it was not expected to make them useless. On November 19, 2020, Danish scientists announced that Cluster 5 had most likely died out.
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What is Cluster 5?
Cluster 5 was a specific variant (or type) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is the virus that causes the illness COVID-19.
Scientists in Denmark named five different types of the virus found in minks. Cluster 5 was one of these types. It had several changes, called mutations, in its spike protein. The spike protein is like a key the virus uses to enter human cells.
Some of these changes included:
- A small piece missing (called a deletion) at positions 69 and 70.
- A change at position 453 (Y453F).
- Other changes at positions 692 (I692V) and 1229 (M1229I).
These changes made Cluster 5 slightly different from other versions of the virus.
How Cluster 5 Started
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In 2019, Denmark was the biggest producer of mink fur in the world. Most of these mink farms were in northern and western Jutland. Minks are mammals that can get infected with coronaviruses.
Scientists found that the virus could spread between minks and humans. This was a concern because the virus could change (mutate) in minks. These new changes could then spread to people.
In August 2020, cases of minks with COVID-19 were found in Utah, USA. More outbreaks were found in other US states like Michigan and Wisconsin. By November 2020, mink infections were reported in Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.
Discovery and Concerns
Finding the Variant
By November 2, 2020, the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) in Denmark found mutated versions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These variants could infect both minks and humans. They were linked to 191 mink farms where the virus was present.
On November 3, SSI publicly reported these findings. They called the variants linked to three specific farms "Cluster 5." The next day, Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, announced that a changed coronavirus was spreading from minks to people. This was mainly happening on mink farms in North Jutland.
Why Cluster 5 Was a Worry
A report by SSI showed that 12 people in North Jutland had been infected with Cluster 5. Eight of these people were directly linked to mink farms. The other four were in the nearby community.
Scientists noticed that the body's antibody response to Cluster 5 was weaker. Antibodies are special proteins the body makes to fight off infections. A weaker response meant that people might not be as protected.
Experts from SSI warned that Cluster 5 could make COVID-19 vaccines less effective. However, they also said it was unlikely to make vaccines completely useless. They were also worried about other new mutations that might appear in minks in the future. Because of these concerns, they suggested closing all mink farms in Denmark.
Actions Taken
Lockdown and Culling
To stop the spread, Prime Minister Frederiksen announced that Denmark would cull (humanely kill) its entire mink population. This was about 14 million minks.
On November 5, a lockdown and travel rules were put in place. This affected seven areas in North Jutland: Brønderslev, Frederikshavn, Hjørring, Jammerbugt, Læsø, Thisted, and Vesthimmerland. These rules started on November 6.
All cultural places, cinemas, theaters, sports facilities, and restaurants were closed. Travel into or out of these areas was stopped. Public transport was also paused. Mass-testing for COVID-19 was increased. These rules were planned to last until December 3, but could end sooner if the culling went well and no new Cluster 5 cases were found.
Global Response
On November 6, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement about the new variants. They said Cluster 5 had a mix of changes not seen before. They confirmed it had a "moderately decreased sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies." This meant it might be harder for the body's immune system to fight it off. More studies were needed to understand its full impact on tests, treatments, and vaccines.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also looked into the risks. They noted that the risk from mink-related variants was similar to general COVID-19 risks. However, they said this could change if concerns about immunity, reinfection, and vaccination were confirmed for Cluster 5. They also warned that the virus spreading in mink farms could cause other problems later.
By late November, over 10 million minks had been culled.
Travel Restrictions
On November 6, the United Kingdom removed Denmark from its "travel corridor" whitelist. This meant travelers from Denmark had to self-isolate for 14 days when they arrived in the UK.
On November 7, the UK went further. They stopped non-residents who had been in Denmark in the last 14 days from entering the UK. British citizens could still return home, but they and everyone in their household had to self-isolate for 14 days. These travel rules were lifted on November 28.
After Cluster 5
Extinction and Lifting Restrictions
After a lot of testing, the SSI announced on November 19, 2020, that no new cases of Cluster 5 had been found. They believed it had most likely disappeared.
The special restrictions in North Jutland were lifted on November 19–20. These areas still followed the normal COVID-19 rules for the rest of Denmark.
Political Changes
It was later found that the Danish government's order to cull all minks was not legal at the time. The Minister for Agriculture, Mogens Jensen, resigned on November 18.
Later, a new law was passed to make the government's order legal after it had happened. On December 21, 2020, the Danish Parliament passed a law banning all mink production throughout 2021. In January 2021, the Danish parliament agreed to pay money to mink farmers to help them.
See also
In Spanish: Cluster 5 para niños
