ASF: More than 29000 pigs died in Mizoram
Guwahati: More than 2900 pigs have died due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Aizawl of Mizoram since March this year.
According to state animal husbandry and veterinary science minister, Dr. K. Beichhua said that at least 29,803 pigs have died in the state when the first pig death due to the dreaded disease was reported at Lungsen village in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district.
Addressing a meeting of the Mizo National Front on Friday, the minister said that at least 10,380 pigs suspected to be infected with ASF have been culled so far.
“As many as 29,803 pigs have been confirmed dead due to ASF in 8 months since March 21 and 533 others died due to suspected ASF,” he said.
At least 272 villages across all eleven districts are currently affected by the ASF outbreak, he said.
He further stated that the government is making massive efforts to contain the outbreak
Mizoram’s lone Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena urged the Centre to provide compensation to pig farmers.
Vanlalvena informed the parliament on Friday that over 29,800 pigs have been killed in Mizoram due to the outbreak of ASF and termed the outbreak as a “disaster and natural calamity” for the poor farmers. The monetary losses caused by the outbreak of ASF is estimated to be around Rs 8,000 crore, he said.
He urged the Centre to compensate the pig farmers for their losses.
Meanwhile, officials of the animal husbandry and veterinary science department said that the number of single-day pig death due to ASF has significantly declined in last few months. They said that two fatalities were reported on Friday.
It may be mentioned that the first outbreak of ASF believed to be caused by pigs imported from Bangladesh was reported at Lungsen village in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district near the Bangladesh border on March 21. Later in mid-April, the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal confirmed it to be ASF.