Dutch workers infected with the coronavirus from mink in the Netherlands may be the first known case of animal-to-human transmission. 

The WHO is working closely with the Dutch researchers investigating the mink workers' case. 

"This would be the first known cases of animal-to-human transmission," the UN Health Agency admits.

WHO said they are in the process of getting more data and reviewing to study if indeed animals and pets can spread the disease.  

Mink Farms and Cases of Mink Workers Infected with Coronavirus 

In a letter to the parliament, Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten said that the mink infected with coronavirus was reported on four of the 155 mink farms all over the country. The minister added that a human infected with coronavirus was the source of infection on three of the four farms. The source of the virus on the fourth farm is still under investigation.

The first case of mink workers infected with coronavirus was from one of two farms near the city of Eindhoven. The minks, which were bred for their valuable furs, were discovered to be infected in April. A second worker had likely contracted the coronavirus infection from the mink as well. 

According to the initial investigation, the workers were not wearing protective clothing to protect themselves from the virus as the infection happened before it was known that the mink was infected with the coronavirus. 

Three people on the farm were tested positive for coronavirus, the health ministry said, but they are still uncertain if more than one of the cases is directly from the mink.

Calls for Investigation on Coronavirus Origin 

The origin of coronavirus, which first emerged in Wuhan, China late last year, is still unknown. Pressure for an investigation to determine the origin is mounting.

The initial reports, in which most scientists believe, is that the virus was transmitted from animals to humans in a Wuhan wet market where exotic animals are sold for meat. 

The coronavirus, which started in China, has since infected more than 5.5. million people all over the world, and claimed the lives of 350,000 infected people. It also forced countries to order a nationwide lockdown to curb the virus spread, crippling economies countries. 

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that China had agreed that an investigation of the origin was necessary, but there are no details on when it might begin.

"All stakeholders understand the importance of studying the origin because it's by studying the origin that we can prevent it from happening in the future," he told a virtual press conference.

Since the Wuhan market incident, there is no reported animal to human transmission of the virus. 

Cases of companion pets getting inflicted with coronavirus from humans have been reported. 

Studies of animal species being susceptible to the virus have also been reported prompting the closure of several wildlife sanctuaries and zoological gardens to protect animals housed in these facilities.

Necessary precautions to avoid infection of pets from contacts with humans inflicted with coronavirus need to be done, WHO said. The agency emphasized, however, that "there is no reason or justification to take measures against companion animals."