Tourism raises risk of animal diseases reaching northern Finland

Growing tourism and climate change are increasing the risk that new animal diseases will spread to Finnish Lapland and elsewhere in Finland, Yle reports.

Tourists’ dogs could bring the vole echinococcus parasite to Finland. The parasite is harmless to dogs but can cause severe symptoms in humans.

Tourists visiting reindeer farms could also contribute to the spread of diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease. Animal diseases can be carried on people’s clothes and shoes, while fish diseases can spread through fishing equipment.

The Finnish Food Authority advises people to ensure that their animals’ vaccinations are up to date. Lapland is already testing a bluetongue disease vaccine given to reindeer.

People who visit animal farms abroad should take special precautions after returning home, including avoiding contact with animals for 48 hours, said Tanja Lähteinen, a special adviser in the Food Authority’s unit for animal health and medication.

Travelling with pets also poses a risk of spreading the vole echinococcus parasite. Finland and Norway are currently free of the parasite, but it has already been found in Sweden and in central and southern Europe.

Dogs belonging to foreign tourists, as well as Finnish dogs that travel abroad, could bring the parasite to Finland.

“Echinococcus can infect humans and form tumour-like cysts in the abdominal cavity and organs. These cysts are filled with small early-stage forms of the parasite,” said Henna Kaarakainen, a veterinarian working in the municipalities of Inari and Utsjoki.

Authorities stress vaccinations and parasite treatment

Lähteinen stressed the importance of giving dogs medication against echinococcus parasites. Pet owners should also check that their animals’ rabies vaccinations are valid when travelling.

Kaarakainen said she had encountered dogs in her work whose rabies vaccinations were not in order.

“There has not really been rabies in Finland for a long time, but there have been individual cases involving imported animals. Rabies can even kill a person,” Kaarakainen said.

The Food Authority said it was very difficult to assess the causes and likelihood of animal diseases reaching Finland. Animals crossing the border can spread diseases as well as people.

For example, bluetongue disease, which infects ruminants, is spread by biting midges. The disease has already been found in Norway and Sweden, and is feared to spread to Finland and infect reindeer in the future.

“The more animals and people move, the greater the risk that unwanted souvenirs will also arrive with that movement,” Lähteinen said.

Climate change creates better conditions for spread

Alongside tourism, climate change has created more favourable conditions for animal diseases to spread, Kaarakainen said. In the Inari and Utsjoki region, she considers climate change one of the biggest risk factors.

Climate change affects the nature, vegetation and temperatures in the region. These factors are connected to which animal diseases and disease carriers can thrive there, Kaarakainen said.

Longer summers and milder autumns could allow diseases to cross borders through ticks and insects.

Fish diseases could cause millions in losses

Fish diseases can also spread through fishing equipment used by tourists. The Food Authority has increased communication in Upper Lapland to prevent the spread of the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris. The region also has disinfection points for fishing equipment and boats.

The situation regarding fish diseases in Finland is still relatively good, according to the Food Authority. However, several fish diseases found in Norway and Russia could also spread to Finland.

Importing live fish and fish eggs carries a risk of introducing new fish diseases. The Food Authority reminded people that live fish must not be moved without the appropriate permits.

Fish remains brought from elsewhere must not be thrown into Lapland’s waterways, and imported fish must not be rinsed in natural waters during cleaning.