Four new African swine fever cases found in southeastern Finland

Yle reports that four new cases of African swine fever have been confirmed in southeastern Finland.

The virus was found in wild boar that had been discovered dead in the wild. All four animals were found about one to two kilometres west of the area where the first positive cases were identified in late July and early August. The initial cases were found in Virolahti municipality.

The Finnish Food Authority also completed testing on another wild boar, which was not infected. All the samples came from the current core area.

The investigation covered five wild boar found dead and one wild boar shot because of abnormal behaviour. Searches will continue to determine the extent of the outbreak.

After the first cases were detected, a core area was established in Virolahti. All movement in the forest, berry picking and mushroom picking are banned there.