The Finnish authorities are considering the possibility of building a wall on the border with Russia to provide protection against the wild boars that might bring the African swine fever to Finland, the Xinhua news agency reports.
According to the Finnish Natural Resources Agency, specialists are determining now the possible length of such a fence and its potential impact on the environment, in particular, on the behavior of other wild animals. The results of the research are expected to be ready by the end of 2018.
Finnish media report an infectious disease that has spread to a number of Russian regions bordering Finland. Currently, the Finnish authorities are actively conducting preventive measures to combat this virus. In particular, hunting for wild boars is encouraged, while pig-breeding farms are obliged to erect additional fences.
Experts explain that the African swine fever spreads through food products more actively than by means of direct contact between animals. “Even one sausage brought from the infected area can be fatal,” Katri Levonen, a representative of the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture, said. However, it is worth noting that this virus is not dangerous for people.