African swine fever in Fagersta cost SEK 151 million

It was in September 2023 that African swine fever was discovered in wild boar in the area around Fagersta.

Now the AgriFood Economics Centre, in a project led by the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (SVA), has calculated the costs of the outbreak. In total, they are estimated at SEK 151 million.

Around SEK 123 million were direct costs for the fight - for example for personnel, sampling, fencing and efforts by hunters.

Was distributed unevenly

A further SEK 28 million consists of, among other things, support to Fagersta and Norberg's municipalities, epizootic compensation and an estimated welfare loss when people could not use the forest for outdoor life and recreation.

The report shows that the so-called epizootic allowances were unevenly distributed. Of around SEK 6 million, the majority went to agriculture. Forestry, hunting, the hospitality industry and sports associations received considerably less.