‘Zombie’ Covid mink ‘rise from the grave’ after millions culled and buried in Denmark sparking infection fears

, 214 human cases of the coronavirus have been identified in Denmark related to farmed minks, with 12 of these linked to the dangerous "Cluster 5" variant.

The country was shaken as pictures emerged of mass graves of slaughtered mink strewn across the countryside - sparking the fury of farmers.

The Danish government was later forced to apologise and admit that its call to slaughter the mink had no legal basis. 

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: “Even if we were in a rush, it should have been completely clear to us that new legislation was required, and it was not.

“I apologise for that.”

Denmark, the world’s largest mink fur exporter, produces an estimated 17 million furs per year. 

Farmers said the cull, estimated to cost up to £600 million, could spell the end of the lucrative industry.

It comes as Denmark reported a daily record in coronavirus cases yesterday with 1,367 new infections, bringing the total in the country to 73,021.

The country has recorded 797 fatalities, which is over double Norway's total of 314.

But it is significantly lower than neighbour Sweden's 6,500 fatalities.