Food Authority understaffed communications on African swine fever

Finland’s Food Authority has failed to provide sufficient information about African swine fever because communications were concentrated among too few people, Yle reports. The resulting uncertainty has caused problems for residents, businesses and municipalities in southeastern Finland.

Crisis communications trainer Katleena Kortesuo said at least three people would be needed to manage communications in a crisis of this kind, and probably more in a case involving the spread of African swine fever.

After the Food Authority’s first press conference, journalists in the affected parts of Kymenlaakso and South Karelia have had to seek information from various sources. Veterinarians supervising the restricted area have been unable to comment because communications were centralised within the Food Authority.

The authority’s communications team, in turn, has also been unable to provide information because responsibility was concentrated on a single person.

“Our experts are currently so busy that they cannot answer questions from the media,” the authority said in one response.

Centralised communication needs enough staff

Kortesuo praised the Food Authority for keeping communications with one organisation rather than allowing several authorities to issue statements.

“If many authorities started addressing this, there could easily be a small misunderstanding or contradiction in the messages, which would cause even more confusion,” she said.

However, based on the information that has become public, there have not been enough people handling communications.

Kortesuo said one person should manage media contacts, another internal communications and a third communication with the public. In this case, more people would probably be needed to focus solely on communications.

“It is extremely important. For example, a forestry entrepreneur who needs to go to work and deliver timber to a factory needs to know how long the restrictions may remain in force,” she said.

Local residents face uncertainty

Yle journalists have spoken to hunters, farmers and agricultural associations in Kymenlaakso and South Karelia. Uncertainty has been the main concern among those contacted.

Timo Ikonen, who runs a farm slaughterhouse in Lappeenranta, received instructions that differed from one another as many as three times a day at one point.

Anne Ukkonen, the municipal manager of Miehikkälä, has contacted the Food Authority but has not received answers.

“It is still somewhat hazy,” Ukkonen said on Wednesday.

The extent of the African swine fever outbreak is not yet known. Hunters and other volunteers are searching forests for additional wild boar that may have died from the disease.

Once the animals have been found and tested, the Food Authority can redefine the infection zones and restrictions. The restrictions could, for example, be eased.

No timetable has been given for this process, although it may take only days.

Kortesuo said regular press conferences would help. Knowing when new information will be available can itself help reduce anxiety.

A week after news emerged of African swine fever being found in Finland, the situation has improved slightly. The Food Authority’s communications team is seeking an expert to answer questions from Yle, with information promised later the same day.