Finland Reports 1st ASF Detection - Switzerland Investigating Unidentified Bovine Disease

Note: Many countries are slow or reluctant to report outbreaks.

#19,273

Although we spend most of our time looking at zoonotic diseases in this blog, over the years we've also followed a number of emerging and reemerging agricultural diseases, including: 

African Swine Fever In China: Epizootic or An EpicZootic?

Viruses: Novel Rodent Coronavirus-like Virus Detected Among Beef Cattle with Respiratory Disease in Mexico

Viruses: Influenza D in Domestic and Wild Animals 

There are also agricultural diseases that inhabit the middle ground, in that they can infect humans - but do so only rarely or have little or no epidemic or pandemic potential - such as the NWS screwworm, Newcastle disease, and Orf Virus (to name a few).

And sometimes, as was the case of 2024's Curious Reports of Unknown Disease In Dairy Cows (Texas, Kansas & New Mexico) - which was later confirmed to be HPAI H5N1 - an outbreak in livestock can pose a risk to humans.  

But even without a zoonotic component, these diseases can pose substantial economic and public health risks, including raising food insecurity issues (see COCA Call: Diseases of Food Animals Threaten Global Food Security).

Arguably, one of the most devastating non-zoonotic diseases is African Swine Fever (ASF), which has spreading across Europe for the past 2 decades, and reached China/Asia in 2018-2019 causing the loss of tens of millions of pigs. 

This week Finland reported their first detection of ASF in wild boars near the Russian border. This from the Finnish Food Authority:

African swine fever detected in Eastern Finland

July 31/2026

Preliminary tests have confirmed African swine fever (ASF) in wild boars in Virolahti, Eastern Finland. The Finnish Food Authority will verify the result with the EU’s reference laboratory for African swine fever in Spain. Measures to limit the spreading of the disease will be taken immediately. This is the first time that the disease has been detected in Finland. This disease is not contagious to humans.

The Finnish Food Authority has established an infection zone around the area where the finding was made, and the movement of pigs in the zone is restricted. The goal is to determine the prevalence of the disease in wild boars in the area and to prevent the disease from spreading elsewhere in Finland. You can find a map of the infection zone and the content of the current restrictions on the Finnish Food Authority’s website.

The virus causing African swine fever was detected in wild piglets that were found dead. The remains of three dead piglets were found by a local who delivered them to the Finnish Food Authority. The carcasses were found close to each other in Vaalimaa, Virolahti. A preliminary ASF virus finding was made in the Finnish Food Authority’s tests on Thursday 30 July.

The press release will be expanded

For more information, contact the Finnish Food Authority:
Sirpa Kiviruusu
Head of Unit
Animal Health and Medication Unit
tel. +358 40 092 0503
sirpa.kiviruusu@ruokavirasto.fi

Yesterday Pathfinder on FluTrackers posted an AFP report on a unidentified disease being reported in Swiss dairy cows, which led me to the following statement by the Swiss FSVO (Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs):

(translation)

Announcement published on July 31, 2026
Diseases in dairy cows: BLV is monitoring the development

Reports of fever, diarrhea, and significant drops in milk production are increasing in dairy cows. Investigations are underway with veterinarians, industry representatives, universities, laboratories, and veterinary authorities.

The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) is aware of reports of an increase in illnesses among dairy cows. Several farmers are reporting symptoms, particularly fever and diarrhea, often accompanied by a significant drop in milk production. The cause has not yet been identified. Investigations are underway into both metabolic and potential infectious causes. These investigations are being conducted in collaboration between practicing veterinarians, Cattle Health Switzerland, veterinary universities and laboratories, and the veterinary authorities.

So far, no pathogen has been identified as the infectious cause. A direct link between the current heat wave and the reported cases of diarrhea has not yet been established. However, high temperatures pose a significant stress, especially for high-yielding dairy cows, and can make the animals more susceptible to disease.

During heat waves, the animals must therefore be consistently protected from heat stress, especially through sufficient water, shade and suitable cooling measures.

Nonspecific symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, or decreased performance can also indicate a highly contagious animal disease. Animal owners should therefore inform their veterinarian immediately so that the necessary examinations can be initiated if required.

The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) is monitoring the situation together with the relevant specialist agencies and is continuously assessing it. Should further action be required, the necessary measures will be examined.

While this may turn out to be a heat-induced illness, or something common like Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), the fact that no cause has been immediately determined makes this worth watching. 

Six weeks ago, in FAO calls for stronger prevention and global action as transboundary animal diseases spread across regions, we looked at the growing risks from the spread of agricultural diseases. 

Our health, and in many ways our fate, is inexorably intertwined with the global biosphere - making what happens in a Fruit bat in Bangladesh, a Shrew in China - or a cattle herd in Europe - something that that has the potential to change our world overnight.