The horses were found in Jönköping and Norrbotten counties and have blisters and sores on the skin of their legs. The contagious skin disease is caused by a poxvirus called equine parapoxvirus, or horse parapoxvirus.
The virus was detected in Finland for the first time in 2021, where it caused outbreaks in several stables.
"Our assessment is that the risk of further spread of infection is low at the moment," says Gittan Gröndahl, state veterinarian at SVA, in a press release.
The virus is transmitted by direct contact but also via equipment, clothing, hands and other objects. Sick horses should be kept isolated from other horses, and disposable gloves and special clothing should be used when handling them.
People can also become infected.
