Epidemic hazard

The Finnish Food Authority is gearing up to build a temporary electric fence in southeast Finland to help contain African swine fever at the core of an infection zone affecting wild boar.The fence, spanning a planned 83 kilometres, will follow the zone's boundaries across the municipalities of Miehikkälä, Virolahti and Lappeenranta. It will stand 120 centimetres tall and operate year-round.The purpose of the fencing is to control wild boar movement, restricting infected animals from leaving the core area while preventing healthy boars from wandering into it. According to the Food Authority, similar fences have proven effective in other countries.Construction begins in December and is expected to take around three months. The fence will not block human movement, with gates or openings built where it crosses roads.The Food Authority previously estimated that the first wild boars carrying African swine fever likely arrived in Finland around the end of May or beginning of June.African swine fever is a serious viral disease for animals but does not infect humans.