African swine fever prompts border controls and dog disinfection

Finland’s Southeast Finland Border Guard is washing and disinfecting equipment, vehicles and patrol dogs as part of its daily operations after African swine fever was detected in wild boar in Virolahti, Yle reports.

The Finnish Food Authority detected the virus in dead wild boar piglets found in Virolahti, in the Kymenlaakso region, last week.

The Border Guard monitors the eastern border in the area where the dead animals were found. It said African swine fever has not compromised border security.

Border surveillance includes patrols on foot and in off-road vehicles, observation and technical monitoring systems. Trained dogs are also used to detect tracks. The dogs include German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and Belgian shepherds.

Extra attention to cleanliness

The Southeast Finland Border Guard is following instructions from the Finnish Food Authority. This includes paying particular attention to washing and disinfecting equipment, vehicles and dogs used in border surveillance.

“Washing and disinfection have been incorporated into daily operations,” the Border Guard said.

The Border Guard also closed the game gates in the eastern border fence on Saturday because of the disease. The gates will remain closed until further notice.

It is possible that the disease entered Finland from Russia, but there is no certainty about this.

The Finnish Food Authority has banned hunting, forestry work and allowing dogs to run free in Virolahti, Miehikkälä and southern Lappeenranta. Berry and mushroom picking is also prohibited within three kilometres of the location in Vaalimaa where the dead piglets were found.

The restrictions are intended to prevent the disease from spreading. African swine fever does not infect humans.