Finland to expand swine fever core area after 15 new findings

The Finnish Food Authority has confirmed 15 new African swine fever findings in laboratory tests this week, Yle reported. Some were outside the current core area, in Pyhtää, Lappeenranta and Virolahti.

The authority plans to expand the core area in the coming days. It is also assessing whether the infection zone and additional restriction zone need to be enlarged.

In Lappeenranta, an infected wild boar was shot about five kilometres northeast of the current core area, towards the city.

In Pyhtää, which is outside the current core area, tests found African swine fever in old bone remains from two wild boars that had died of the disease. The remains were found about 10 kilometres southwest of a location where remains from an infected boar were discovered in late August. The authority plans to search the area.

Old remains from a wild boar found outside the core area in Virolahti also tested positive. They were found in the same area where remains from an infected animal had previously been discovered.