Highly contagious African swine fever (ASF) persists in Mizoran, claiming the lives of 635 pigs, and an additional 290 pigs were euthanized to stop its spread. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHV) officials said an ASF outbreak has been reported in three districts (Aizawl, Champhai and Saitual) since April, with 308 pigs culled and 195 culled since last month in Aizawl alone.
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Officials said that under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act of 2009, The department has declared several villages and towns in these three districts as infected areas following the outbreak of African swine fever. The department has also banned the supply of pigs from infected areas.
AHV Department urges compliance with government directives amid African swine fever outbreak
The AHV department has asked its teams and villagers to bury the dead and slaughtered pigs with lime powder in designated areas. Minister of Livestock and Veterinary Medicine C. Lalsawivunga recently held a review meeting with concerned officials and asked everyone to comply with the government’s guidelines and directives to deal with the disease.
ASF hit Mizoram for the first time in 2021 and since then, reports of the disease outbreak during summers have been reported almost every year. According to officials, the ASF outbreak occurs mainly when the weather starts warming and pre-monsoon rains begin in the state. At least 47,269 pigs and piglets died between 2021 and 2023 in Mizoram due to the African swine fever outbreak, while at least 25,182 pigs were culled during this period.
The amount of losses incurred due to the outbreak of African swine fever in the state is estimated to have crossed Rs 132.20 crore affecting 19,017 families. According to experts, the ASF outbreak could have been caused by pigs or pig brought from neighboring Myanmar, Bangladesh and neighboring northeastern states.
With a huge demand for pork in the northeastern region, its annual business in the region is worth Rs 8,000-10,000 crore, with Assam being the largest supplier.
Source-IANS
