Finland has reported its first cases of African swine fever (ASF) after laboratory tests detected the virus in three wild boar piglets in the eastern part of the country, according to an announcement by the Finnish Food Authority.

The virus, which does not affect humans, is highly contagious and often fatal among pigs. It was detected in the municipality of Virolahti, in eastern Finland, near the border with Russia.

The Finnish Food Authority said it will confirm the findings through the EU Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever in Spain.

Finnish authorities have established an infected zone around the area where the virus was found, and the movement of pigs within the zone has been restricted.

According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland, the country was estimated to have approximately 2,380 wild boars at the beginning of January 2026.

African Swine Fever Spreads Across Europe

African swine fever spread from Africa to Europe and Asia, causing significant losses among pig populations, leading to trade restrictions and affecting global meat markets.

In recent years, outbreaks have been recorded across Europe, resulting in the culling of pigs in countries including Croatia, Spain, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Hungary, and Serbia.