Mizoram starts mass culling of ASF infected pigs

The African Swine Fever (ASF), a swine viral disease that kills pigs, was first detected on the Indian subcontinent in early 2020 in the Northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram. So far over 4149 pigs have died in Mizoram due to African Swine Fever.

Aizwal:The African Swine Fever (ASF), a swine viral disease that kills pigs that contract it, was first detected on the Indian subcontinent in early 2020 in the Northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram. So far over 4149 pigs have died in Mizoram due to African Swine Fever.

After African Swine Fever was first detected in Mizoram in March 2021, at Lungsen village, a Rapid Response Team was immediately set up in all districts of Mizoram. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) Bhopal confirmed it to be African Swine Fever (ASF), after which the Chief Secretary of Mizoram was informed the next month.

Mizoram's Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department under the "The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act 2009" declared Lungsen as 'Infected Zone'. So far, ASF has been confirmed in 8 districts of Mizoram - Siaha, Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Serchhip, Aizawl, Khawzawl, Champhai and Mamit.

Between March 21 and May 23, 2021, 4149 pigs have died from African Swine Fever while another 260 pigs died from unverified reasons. On May 24, 2021, 25 pigs were culled at Khawlhring Farm which is owned by K. Lalngheta.

The state Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department has stated that there is no cure for African Swine Fever and that any farm or locality infected by ASF must be thoroughly disinfected and pigs to be buried properly after culling. The Department also commended the Khawlhring Farm owner for informing the concerned department to cull the infected pigs and termed it as an exemplary step.

The African Swine Fever was first detected at Lungsen Village in south Mizoram's Lunglei district near the Bangladesh border on March 21, 2021. The state's Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department also confirmed that 65 pigs died on April 19 alone, taking the total deaths due to ASF to 920 till that date.

The outbreak has been notified under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act 2009. Cases of African Swine Fever have been reported from Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya along with Myanmar. ASF is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease that is not a threat to human health as per the experts.