Northeast Desk, 7th June: An outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Mizoram has resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,500 pigs and piglets since the beginning of 2024, according to the state’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department. The highly contagious viral disease has spread across 80 villages or localities in seven districts, with devastating impacts on local pig farming.
On June 6 alone, 64 pigs died from ASF, while 235 were culled to prevent further spread. “At least 1,488 pigs have died due to ASF, and 3,002 have been culled to prevent the dreaded swine fever since January,” an official reported.
The outbreak, first detected in March 2021 in Lungsen village, Lunglei district, near the Bangladesh border, is believed to have been introduced through illegally imported pigs from the neighboring country. Mizoram shares a 318-km-long border with Bangladesh, facilitating the potential spread of the disease.
Statistics from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department highlight the ongoing severity of ASF in the state. In 2021, 33,417 pigs died due to the disease, with 12,795 deaths in 2022, and 1,039 so far in 2023. To control the outbreak, authorities culled 12,568 pigs in 2021, 11,686 in 2022, and 928 in 2023.
In response to the crisis, the state government has banned the import of pigs from outside Mizoram and implemented strict measures to contain the disease, including prohibiting the movement of pigs from infected zones.
ASF, a fatal viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, has caused significant economic losses and disrupted livelihoods in Mizoram. The outbreak continues to pose a severe threat to the state’s pig farming industry.
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