Daijiworld Media Network - Aizwal

Aizawl, Apr 5: Over 1,050 pigs have died in Mizoram due to a fresh outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), officials from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD) said on Friday.

The department has declared 34 localities across Lawngtlai, Mamit, and Siaha districts as ASF-infected zones. These districts share borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Tripura — increasing the risk of cross-border transmission.

Since the resurgence of the disease in March, AHVD teams have culled over 400 pigs and piglets in an effort to contain the spread. The outbreak was confirmed on March 20 after tests were conducted at the Northeast Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NERDDL) in Guwahati.

Lawngtlai was the first to report fresh ASF cases earlier last month. Officials said surveillance and containment measures are ongoing to prevent the spread of the deadly virus to unaffected areas.

The disease has taken a heavy toll on the state’s pig population and economy over the years. In 2023, ASF killed 1,139 pigs while 980 were culled. The outbreak began in 2021, and since then, Mizoram has lost approximately Rs 896.69 cr.

Year-wise losses due to ASF:

• 2021: Rs 334.14 cr (33,417 pig deaths, 12,568 culled)
• 2022: Rs 210.32 cr (12,795 dead, 11,686 culled)
• 2023: Rs 15.77 cr

The first ASF case in 2024 was reported on February 9 in Leithum village of Champhai district, which borders Myanmar.

An AHVD official confirmed that compensation has been provided to several families affected by the outbreak. ASF, although not harmful to humans, is highly contagious and fatal for pigs, posing a severe threat to the state's livestock sector.