Finland faces several animal diseases after African swine fever arrives

Finland is facing a growing threat from serious animal diseases after African swine fever was detected in the country for the first time, Yle reports. The disease was found in wild boars in Virolahti, in Kymenlaakso.

African swine fever is a severe haemorrhagic fever affecting pigs, but it does not infect humans. According to the Finnish Food Authority, serious animal diseases spreading in Europe pose a major threat to Finnish livestock farming and society as a whole.

“Losses affect the entire economic chain and society more broadly, because the situation requires official measures and may lead to compensation costs,” said Tanja Lähteinen, a senior specialist at the Finnish Food Authority’s Unit for Animal Health and Medication.

Containing and eradicating new diseases could require extensive measures. Large numbers of animals may have to be culled, while broad restrictions could be imposed on the movement of animals. Such restrictions can disrupt operations and cause overcrowding at animal facilities if animals cannot be moved further along the production chain.

International trade and exports could also be disrupted for a long time. The Finnish Food Authority said the confirmed outbreak of African swine fever affects exports of pork and pork products outside the European Union.

Some diseases, including avian influenza and vole echinococcus, can also infect humans and therefore have public health implications. In humans, vole echinococcus causes multilocular cysts, which usually develop in the liver.

Several serious animal diseases are spreading

Foot and mouth disease has been detected in Europe this year and last year. Sheep and goat pox has occurred particularly in Greece, while several other countries have also reported outbreaks.

Peste des petits ruminants, which infects sheep and goats, has been detected in several countries for the first time in recent years. Lumpy skin disease in cattle was detected in Italy and France last year and has since spread to Spain.

Bluetongue has already spread to Sweden and Norway. It can cause deaths and foetal deformities, and antibodies to the disease have already been found in Finland.

Diseases can arrive through several routes

According to the Finnish Food Authority, animal diseases can spread through food and other animal products carried by travellers. They can also enter the country through animal transfers that do not comply with legal requirements.

“Animal transfers are of course always restricted during epidemics, but unfortunately illegal transfers do occur. In some regions, they have been found to be a significant factor in the spread of diseases despite strict control measures,” Lähteinen said.

Pathogens can also be carried on people’s clothes and shoes. How long they survive outside an animal depends on the characteristics of the pathogen. The sheep and goat pox virus, for example, can survive for months under suitable conditions.

Wild animals can spread diseases as they move from one country to another, including across the land borders between Sweden and Norway. Some diseases are transmitted by insects.

Several diseases have already reached Finland

In addition to the newly detected African swine fever, Finland has previously recorded diseases including avian influenza and salmonella. This year, avian influenza cases have so far been found only in wild birds.

Salmonella has occurred at between 20 and 30 farms in recent years. Under Finnish legislation, it is a controlled disease in cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys.

Reindeer pox has also been detected in Finland. The nematode Setaria tundra, found in reindeer, has become more common. It causes peritonitis and suffering in reindeer, as well as carcass rejections during meat inspections and resulting financial losses.