Finland closes border crossings for wildlife due to African Swine Fever risk

Finland has implemented border closures for wild animals at crossings with Russia, citing the escalating risk of African Swine Fever (ASF) transmission. The measure, effective from the beginning of August, aims to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease.

The Finnish Border Guard's emergency situations department confirmed the closures. ASF has recently been detected in dead wild boars in Virolahti, a town approximately 20 kilometers from the Russian border. These findings represent the first confirmed cases of the disease within Finland. Officials suspect the virus may have entered Finland from Russia, though previous reports of ASF closest to Finland originated from Estonia.

In response to the ASF outbreak, the Finnish Food Safety Authority has imposed several restrictions. These include bans on hunting, forestry activities, and allowing dogs to roam freely in several southeastern regions. Additionally, the collection of berries and mushrooms is prohibited within a several-kilometer-wide strip along the border. Finland's wild boar population is estimated at around 2,400, primarily in the southeastern parts of the country, with some animals known to cross between Russia and Finland for foraging.