The Finnish Food Authority reported Friday that preliminary tests have confirmed African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars in Virolahti, Eastern Finland.
This is the first time that the disease has been detected in Finland.
Officials will verify the result with the EU’s reference laboratory for African swine fever in Spain. Measures to limit the spreading of the disease will be taken immediately.
The Finnish Food Authority has established an infection zone around the area where the finding was made, and the movement of pigs in the zone is restricted. The goal is to determine the prevalence of the disease in wild boars in the area and to prevent the disease from spreading elsewhere in Finland.
The virus causing African swine fever was detected in wild piglets that were found dead. The remains of three dead piglets were found by a local who delivered them to the Finnish Food Authority. The carcasses were found close to each other in Vaalimaa, Virolahti.
Officials note that ASF is not contagious to humans.