Avoiding bringing meat products from abroad urged
African swine fever (ASF) is spreading at an alarming rate in areas near Finland, particularly in Estonia, said the Finnish Food Authority in a press release on Thursday.
In Estonia, the disease has now also been detected in domestic pigs, in addition to wild boar populations.
ASF is a highly contagious and serious disease in pigs, causing significant suffering and potentially leading to death.
ASF has not yet been detected in Finland, but an outbreak would have severe economic consequences for domestic pig farming and food exports.
ASF has been present in Estonia and other Baltic countries among both domestic pigs and wild boars since 2014.
During the summer of 2025, numerous cases have been reported in areas near Finland, including Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland.
In Estonia, the disease has been confirmed on five different pig farms, four of which are very large. To prevent further spread, over 17,000 pigs have been culled in Estonia.
The Finnish Food Authority reminded people that alertness and preventive measures are key to controlling the disease.
It is also crucial to report symptoms that may indicate ASF, so that potential cases can be identified early, and the spread can be quickly contained.
If a veterinarian, pig owner, or anyone working with or in contact with ASF suspected pigs on a farm, they are urged to immediately report to an official veterinarian.
The authority also urged to report, if any dead wild boar is found to the municipal veterinarian or the Regional State Administrative Agency.
The authority also urged people to not bring meat, sausages, or other animal products from abroad.
People are also urged to avoid contact with wild animals, especially wild boars abroad.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
