Mizoram Experiences Outbreak of African Swine Fever, Sonitpur Adopts Stringent Containment Procedures

AIZAWL, March 28: Mizoram has witnessed a new outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), sending the state’s pig farmers into a state of panic. The virus, which has killed at least 400 pigs since March 20, has hit Lawngtlai and Mamit districts hardest, prompting a quick and massive response from local authorities.

The outbreak has disrupted the local pig farming industry, with several areas witnessing significant pig fatalities. The situation has led to extensive culling measures to curb the virus’s spread, with officials taking immediate action to prevent further damage. The worst-hit region is Lawngtlai, where the Bungtlang South village recorded 188 pig deaths. Additionally, other affected areas include Lawngtlai town and parts of Mamit’s Zawlnuam town, causing considerable distress among the local farming community.

Laboratory tests carried out in Aizawl and Guwahati on March 20 established the existence of ASF, ending an 80-day lull since the last outbreak in December 2024. The virus has returned despite earlier containment efforts, which has been a testament to the difficulties in eliminating ASF, which has affected Mizoram every year since its initial detection in 2021.

To counter the outbreak, the Mizoram Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department is prioritizing containing the virus and ensuring that strict containment measures are in place. The state has been dealing with recurring ASF outbreaks, which have led to huge economic losses in the pig-rearing industry, with widespread culling operations and huge financial losses for farmers.

At the same time, in Assam, the Sonitpur district authorities have taken advance action to keep the virus from spreading further. The district issued a strict prohibitory order under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, after cases of ASF were detected in the No. 4 Gormara village, close to Panipota Tea Estate in the Balipara block. The district administration has divided the affected area into two zones: the Infected Zone (1 km radius) and the Surveillance Zone (10 km radius).

In the Infected Zone, regulations have been put in place, such as prohibiting the movement of live pigs, pork, and any pig-related items. Transportation of pigs through the zone must guarantee that the animals are not offloaded without a sanitization certificate. The transportation of infected pigs has also been prohibited, and infected carcasses must be disposed of hygienically.

The Surveillance Area is 10 km from the epicenter, where pigs will be tested and monitored stringently. Domestic pigs in the vicinity of forest tracts will be monitored intensively, and district authorities are joining hands with the forest department for joint action. Fines have been imposed for offenders, and heavy penalties are being given to those found dumping infected pig bodies in water sources, with a warning of imprisonment and fines.

The measures of containment in Sonitpur are aimed at avoiding further outbreaks in the district, both for the public health and the pig farming sector that is an important aspect of the regional economy. The administration in the district has authorized the Chief Veterinary Officer and other officials to order euthanasia for sick pigs, if that becomes necessary, and dispose of the carcasses properly.

With the ASF spreading further in Mizoram and now in Assam, authorities are calling on pig farmers, traders, and the public to strictly follow the containment protocols. If not controlled, the ASF virus would destroy the pig farming sector in these areas, which is a main source of livelihood for many families.

Animal health authorities throughout the Northeast are ramping up their efforts to monitor and contain the virus, but with the tenacity of ASF in Mizoram, the problem continues to be a cause for concern for authorities as well as the farming community.