African swine fever cases prompt Finland measures

Finland has introduced new measures to combat African swine fever after cases in the country continued to rise since July, the government said Tuesday.

African swine fever is harmless to humans, but it is a viral haemorrhagic disease with a mortality rate close to 100 percent in pigs and wild boar.

The first infected dead wild boars were detected in Finland in late July. The Finnish Food Authority said 36 cases had been identified in southeastern Finland as of August 28.

One measure will raise the financial reward for samples collected from wild boars hunted outside the infected area from 50 euros, or $58, to 500 euros, or $580.

Authorities will increase monitoring, sampling and operational measures to prevent the disease from spreading further, the government said. The core infection area may also be fenced in if deemed necessary.

Hunting in protected areas and national parks will be allowed to help tackle the disease. The government said the measures were expected to encourage wild boar hunting outside the infection zone and contribute to eradicating the disease in Finland.

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Sari Essayah said the government had acknowledged that combating African swine fever was a shared challenge. Further funding to address the disease's economic impact was also expected as budget talks were under way on Tuesday.

The Finnish Food Authority said last week that the infected zone in southeastern Finland would be enlarged. On Tuesday, it said some restrictions would be loosened in the new, larger infection zone, while stricter limits in the core zone would remain in force.