Mizoram is grappling with a devastating outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which has claimed the lives of almost 1,500 pigs and piglets since the onset of 2024, reports the state’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department. The highly contagious viral disease has spread its grip over 80 villages or localities across seven districts, wreaking havoc on the region’s pig farming sector.
A staggering toll of 64 pigs succumbed to ASF on June 6 alone, while an additional 235 were culled in a bid to curb further transmission. An official lamented, “Since January, we have witnessed the loss of at least 1,488 pigs to ASF, with 3,002 more sacrificed to stem the tide of this dreaded swine fever.”
The origins of the outbreak trace back to March 2021, when the virus was first detected in Lungsen village, situated in the Lunglei district, near the Bangladesh border. Suspected to have infiltrated through the illicit importation of pigs from neighboring Bangladesh, Mizoram’s 318-km-long border presents a vulnerable gateway for disease transmission.
Official statistics from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department paint a grim picture of ASF’s relentless onslaught. In 2021, the disease claimed the lives of 33,417 pigs, followed by 12,795 deaths in 2022 and 1,039 casualties recorded in 2023. To combat the crisis, authorities resorted to culling 12,568 pigs in 2021, followed by 11,686 in 2022, and 928 in 2023.
In response to the escalating threat, the state government has imposed a ban on pig imports from outside Mizoram and enforced stringent containment measures. These measures include prohibiting the movement of pigs from infected zones, aiming to staunch the spread of the disease.
ASF, known for its devastating impact on both domestic and wild pig populations, continues to inflict severe economic losses and disrupt livelihoods in Mizoram. The ongoing outbreak poses an imminent threat to the state’s pig farming industry, necessitating swift and decisive action to mitigate its consequences.