NEW DELHI, Apr 27 (NNN-PTI) – Local government in India’s north-eastern state of Mizoram, has sounded a high alert, following the outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF), officials said, yesterday.
The viral disease has so far killed 174 pigs.
The state’s department of animal husbandry and veterinary said, the outbreak has been reported from the capital city of Aizawl and two adjoining districts of Saitual and Champhai.
“Following the confirmation of ASF, the department of animal husbandry and veterinary has declared various villages and localities of the three districts as infected, and imposed a complete prohibition on the export or import of pigs from these infected zones,” an official said. “Also the sale or slaughter of both healthy and sick pigs has been banned.”
The guidelines issued by the department said, dead pigs’ carcasses must be buried with lime powder at designated areas.
According to officials, ASF first hit Mizoram in 2021, and since then the outbreak has been reported several times.
Between 2021 and 2023, at least 47,269 pigs and piglets perished due to the ASF, while 25,182 pigs were culled.
ASF is highly contagious and the deadly viral disease affects both the wild and domestic swine.
Experts say, ASF does not affect humans. However, they could be the carriers of the virus.
The viral disease in swine has a mortality rate of up to 100 percent.– NNN-PTI
