December 11, 2023

Sweden reduces infected ASF zone in country

The government of Sweden has announced a reduction of the country's infected African swine fever (ASF) zone.

As of November 30, the remaining of such a zone will be divided into a core area and an outer area, with certain restrictions lifted in the outer area. The infected zone will now cover 617 square kilometers, significantly reduced from the previous 1,000 square kilometers.

In the outer area, several restrictions have been removed. Movement on foot, by bike and on horseback in forests and land, as well as on ice and in lakes, alone or in a small group is now allowed. Sports activities alone or in a small group are allowed.

In the core area, all restrictions remain. All activities involving people or vehicles in the forest and land are still prohibited.

For almost three months, intensive search efforts have been carried out where local hunters have searched the grounds on foot for dead wild boars.

According to FACE - Hunters of Europe, a total of 62 infected boar carcasses were discovered within a five-kilometer radius during the search.

Chief State Epidemiologist Karl Ståhl emphasised that the peak of the virus spreading was in late August and early September, and no new cases have been reported since the end of September.

- Fagersta Municipality / FACE