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Key Points

Mizoram is grappling with a severe African Swine Fever outbreak, killing over 7,300 pigs since March. The disease has spread across seven districts, with Siaha being the worst affected. Officials are struggling to contain the outbreak due to lack of vaccines and limited funding. The state is exploring vaccine imports while seeking central assistance to mitigate economic losses.

Key Points: Mizoram African Swine Fever Outbreak Kills 7300 Pigs Since March

  • Siaha district worst hit with 3,300 pig deaths
  • Financial losses estimated at Rs 982 crore
  • Governor calls for vaccine imports from Vietnam
  • Mizoram selected for Pandemic Fund Project
3 min read

Over 7,300 pigs dead, 2,900 culled due to African Swine Fever outbreak in Mizoram since March

Over 7,300 pigs dead and 2,900 culled in Mizoram as African Swine Fever outbreak spreads across 116 villages, affecting 2,800 families.

"ASF has become endemic in Mizoram, making vaccination the most viable solution – AHVD Officials"

Aizawl, Aug 5

Mizoram has been battling a severe outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) since mid-March, which has left over 7,300 pigs dead and affected around 2,800 families across 116 villages and localities in seven districts, officials said on Tuesday.

A senior official of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD) said that the spread of the highly infectious disease shows no signs of slowing down.

So far, the AHVD teams have culled around 2,900 pigs in a bid to contain the outbreak.

Siaha district in southern Mizoram remains the worst affected, with over 3,300 pig deaths reported in 38 villages and localities, affecting 1,250 families. A total of 945 pigs have been culled in the district as a containment measure.

Besides Siaha, the other affected districts are Lawngtlai, Khawzawl, Hnahthial, Lunglei, Mamit, and Champhai.

Several teams of AHVD are on a regular visit to the affected areas to monitor the situation closely and take immediate steps to curb the spread of the disease.

Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh (retd) held a review meeting with senior officials of the AHVD on Monday and discussed the ongoing ASF outbreak in the state.

Deputy Director (DI&E), Dr Esther Lalzoliani, giving a detailed overview of the ASF situation in Mizoram and its critical aspects, said that the first ASF case in Mizoram was reported at Lungsen village in Lunglei district on March 21, 2021.

Since then so far a total of 69,411 pigs have died due to ASF, with 52,194 culled to prevent further spread.

The outbreak has affected 11,382 households, resulting in an estimated financial loss of Rs 982.16 crore, the official said.

Through the assistance to the state for control of animal disease and the state government, Rs 1,451.915 lakh has been disbursed as compensation for culled pigs, while an additional Rs 477.08 lakh has been provided through the Mizoram Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DM&R) Department for pigs lost to the disease.

In Monday's meeting, officials informed the Governor that ASF has become endemic in Mizoram, making the implementation of a vaccination program the most viable solution for containment. However, as no ASF vaccine is available in India, they raised the need to explore importing vaccines from Vietnam, where they are being developed.

The officials also highlighted challenges in securing funds from the Central government, which has limited their ability to provide adequate compensation.

The AHVD officials reported that Mizoram is among 14 states selected for the first phase of the Pandemic Fund Project to strengthen its Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, with plans to achieve NABL accreditation upon completion.

An official said that the Governor expressed grave concern over the devastating impact of ASF, which has caused significant economic losses and disrupted livelihoods across Mizoram for the past four years.

Highlighting the department’s limited capacity to manage the outbreak independently, he called for enhanced collaboration with other government departments and increased public participation to strengthen containment efforts. General Singh (retd) urged stakeholders to intensify measures to curb the spread of ASF and mitigate its severe socio-economic consequences, assuring full support for the challenges and proposals presented by the Veterinary Department, the official added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Nearly ₹1000 crore loss is massive! Shows how vulnerable our rural economy is. The authorities should have acted more proactively when the first cases were reported in 2021. Prevention is always better than cure.
A
Aman W
As someone from animal husbandry background, I must say the compensation being offered (₹1451 lakh) is too little too late. Farmers lose everything overnight. The central govt should release emergency funds immediately!
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Sarah B
While the situation is tragic, I appreciate the transparency in reporting numbers and challenges. The mention of NABL accreditation for labs is a positive step. Hope other states learn from Mizoram's experience.
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Vikram M
This outbreak shows why we need better inter-state coordination. ASF spreads through transport of infected pigs - stricter checks at state borders could have prevented this disaster. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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Nisha Z
The human cost is being overlooked - 11,382 families affected! Many Mizo families depend entirely on pig farming. Government should provide alternative livelihood training along with compensation. #StandWithMizoram
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, the article misses mentioning any awareness campaigns for farmers. Prevention starts with education - simple biosecurity measures could reduce risks.

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