AIZAWL: The African Swine Fever (AFS), which resurfaced in Mizoram last month, has killed more than 3,050 pigs in four of the state’s 11 districts, officials said on Saturday. An official from Mizoram’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD) said that the department so far declared 46 localities in four districts as ASF-infected zones – Siaha, Lawngtlai, Lunglei and Mamit.
All four ASF-affected districts shared unfenced borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh.
AHVD officials said that while the outbreak of disease has affected four districts, Siaha district continues to bear the brunt of the infectious disease, increasing the cumulative pig death toll in the district to 1,651.
Lawngtlai town, which borders both Myanmar and Bangladesh, also reported a total toll of 1,189 so far.
To contain the spread of the disease, the AHVD teams so far culled around 1,000 pigs in four districts.
Though the spike in pig deaths seen earlier in the week has shown signs of slowing since Thursday, AHVD officials described the situation as ‘very serious’.
According to the department officials, the ongoing hot weather conditions and intermittent rainfall are favourable for the spread of the AFS virus.
Senior AHVD officials continue to closely monitor affected areas and implement containment measures, urging pig farmers and the public to remain vigilant. (IANS)
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