Mizoram: Outbreak of African Swine Fever Leads to the Loss of Over 39,200 Pigs

Aizawl, Dec 13 (NationPress) More than 15,000 pigs have been slaughtered, and over 24,200 pigs culled since the onset of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Mizoram on February 9 this year, as stated by officials on Friday.

A senior official from the Mizoram Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AHV) Department revealed that after a period of declining fatalities attributed to the infectious ASF, the northeastern state has recently experienced a dramatic rise in both pig deaths and culling.

According to the official, the recent pig fatalities occurred in two districts: Kolasib, which borders Assam, and Lunglei, adjacent to Bangladesh.

The AHV Department representative noted that while the ratio of pig deaths and culling due to ASF had decreased following the summer season, the outbreak of this infectious disease remains rampant in various districts.

Unofficial estimates indicate that pig farmers and rearers across seven of the eleven districts in this hilly border state have sustained significant losses due to the outbreak of this communicable disease since February.

Pigs from both government and private farms and homes in approximately 260 villages across seven districts—Aizawl, Champhai, Kolasib, Lunglei, Saitual, Khawzawl, and Serchhip—have been affected by the ASF outbreak to date.

The veterinary department has officially declared these 260 villages as infected.

To mitigate the spread of the ASF virus, the department has prohibited the movement of pigs, piglets, and pork from the affected regions.

Additionally, the state government has prohibited the import of pigs and piglets from neighboring states and countries where ASF outbreaks frequently occur.

Officials have noted that ASF outbreaks typically coincide with the warming climate and onset of pre-monsoon rains in the state.

However, this year, the outbreak has persisted even after the winter season commenced.

Since mid-March 2021, the ASF outbreak has caused substantial losses for both farmers and government farms, with the first ASF case of this year reported on February 9 in Leithum village of Champhai district, which shares an unfenced border with Myanmar.

In 2021, a total of 33,420 pigs and piglets perished due to this contagious disease, while 12,800 pigs and piglets died in 2022 and 1,040 in 2023.

The Mizoram Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister, C. Lalsawivunga, recently informed the state assembly that pig farmers in the state suffered losses nearing Rs 800 crore due to the ASF outbreak in 2021.

Following the ASF outbreak, the AHV department has declared various villages and areas in seven districts of Mizoram as infected zones under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009, adhering to central guidelines.

The government has extended compensation to several hundred families for their losses of pigs due to the disease.

Although ASF does not impact humans, it is a highly contagious disease among pigs that poses a significant threat due to its high mortality rate.

Experts suggest that the ASF outbreak may have originated from pigs or pork shipped from neighboring Myanmar, Bangladesh, and adjacent northeastern states.

Mizoram shares a 510-km long unfenced border with Myanmar and a 318 km border with Bangladesh.

Pork is a widely consumed meat among both tribal and non-tribal communities in the northeastern region.

Given the high demand for pork in the area, the annual market value is estimated to range from Rs 8,000-10,000 crore, with Assam being the primary supplier.