African swine fever controls will last more than a year

Efforts to control African swine fever in Finland will last longer than a year, Yle reports, citing Sirpa Kiviruusu, head of the Finnish Food Authority’s Animal Health and Medication Unit.

The Finnish Food Authority changed restrictions on Tuesday after the disease spread across a wider area than previously believed. The expansion means authorities must also assess the impact of the restrictions on forestry and other activities, Kiviruusu said on Yle’s morning programme.

The infection zone currently covers parts of three regions and includes the municipalities of Virolahti, Miehikkälä, Lappeenranta, Hamina, Kotka, Pyhtää and Loviisa.

The restrictions were eased this week. Forestry work and walking dogs are now allowed outside the core area in Virolahti, and some restrictions on hunting have also been relaxed.

The first confirmed case was found in Virolahti on July 30. The latest case was confirmed in Pyhtää last Friday.

Researchers at the Finnish Food Authority are investigating whether the confirmed cases are connected. As the search continues, they will also examine whether other cases can be found between the two locations, Kiviruusu said.

According to Kiviruusu, wild boar are mainly found along Finland’s southern coast and in southeastern Finland. The country’s permanent wild boar population is estimated at about 2,500 animals.

African swine fever is a fatal disease for pigs and wild boar. There is no vaccine or treatment. The disease can spread through wild boar, pork brought by people and contaminated hunting equipment, but it does not infect humans.