Over 80 pigs die in Mizoram village along Bangladesh border

More than 87 pigs have died at Lungsen village in South Mizoram’s Lunglei district along the India-Bangladesh border over the past few weeks, triggering panic in the area.

The causer of the death is yet top be ascertained. It is suspected that the pigs died due to African Swine Fever (ASF).

The death of the pigs caused losses to the tune of Rs 40 lakh, said an official of the animal husbandry and veterinary department of Mizoram on Monday.

The first death was reported on March 21, following which veterinary officers were sent to the village to ascertain the cause of death.

A preliminary test will be conducted at the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry to determine if the pigs were infected by ASF. However, the confirmatory test will be done at National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Madhya Pradesh.

According to Department officials, the government has already sounded alert for African Swine Fever in the state and declared Lungsen village as an infected area and a prohibitory order was clamped on April 3.

Officials suspect the diseases was transmitted through import of pigs from from neighbouring states and countries like Bangladesh. So far, the state has not reported any outbreak of African Swine Fever.