Finland has detected its first cases of African swine fever, after laboratory tests confirmed the virus in three wild boar piglets in the eastern part of the country, the Finnish Food Authority announced.
The virus, which does not spread to humans but is highly contagious and often fatal for pigs, was found in the municipality of Virolahti in eastern Finland, close to the border with Russia.
The Finnish Food Authority said it will confirm the result with the EU’s reference laboratory for African swine fever, located in Spain.
Finnish authorities have set up a containment zone around the area where the virus was detected, and movement of pigs within that zone has been restricted.
As of early January 2026, Finland’s wild boar population was estimated at 2,380 animals, according to the Natural Resources Institute Finland.
African swine fever spread from Africa to Europe and Asia, causing major losses among pig populations, triggering trade restrictions, and affecting global meat markets.
In recent years, cases have been detected that led to pig culls across Europe, including in Croatia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Hungary, and Serbia.
