African Swine Fever kills 919 pigs in Mizoram this year

Aizawl: At least 919 pigs have died in Mizoram due to African Swine Fever (ASF) infections during this year as the porcine disease continued to spread in the state with 36 localities or villages being identified as infected areas, state animal husbandry and veterinary department officials said on Saturday.

The officials said that since January 1 till May 10, the ASF resurgence has killed 631 pigs while 288 pigs have been culled so far.

Aizawl district is the hardest hit with 306 killed and 190 pigs culled during the same period, the officials said, adding that 20 neighbourhoods within Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) have been identified as ASF infested area while 5 villages in Aizawl district are declared as infected villages.

They said that 288 pigs have died in the AMC area where 177 pigs have been culled.

This year’s ASF resurgence began during early April in some pockets and some areas in a few districts have been declared as infested.

Department officials said that the resurgence of the ASF outbreak always occurred when climate begins to warm up and pre-monsoon rains commence in the state.

At least 47,269 pigs and piglets have died during 2021-2023 in Mizoram due to African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak while at least 25,182 pigs have been culled during the same period. The amount of loss, incurred due to the ASF outbreak in the state, have been estimated to be over Rs. 132.20 crore affecting 19,017 families.

Officials said that ASF infection was first detected on March 21, 2021 at Mizoram-Bangladesh border Lungsen village in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district and spread like wildfire to other parts of the state.

While the state animal husbandry and veterinary department officials declared that the outbreak was contained in December 2021, recurrence of the infestation began during early 2022 and continued till 2023.

At least 47,269 pigs and piglets have died during 2021-2023 in Mizoram due to African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak while at least 25,182 pigs have been culled during the same period. The amount of losses incurred due to the ASF outbreak and resurgences in the state have been estimated to be over Rs. 132.20 crore affecting 19,017 families.

Officials said that ASF infection was first detected on March 21, 2021 at Mizoram-Bangladesh border Lungsen village in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district and spread like wildfire to other parts of the state.

While the state animal husbandry and veterinary department officials declared that the outbreak was contained in December 2021, recurrence of the infestation began during early 2022 and continued till 2023.

The officials said that though the ASF outbreak re-occurred every year since 2021, the number of swine deaths have decreased considerably every year and experts expect that it will further dwindle in the years to come.