Over 5,500 pigs and piglets have been killed in the past two months in Mizoram due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF).
Joint director of the state animal husbandry and veterinary science department (Livestock Health) Lalhmingthanga said that the ASF continues to wreak havoc as it is still spreading to other areas.
The dreaded disease have so far claimed the lives of 5,546 pigs and piglets since March, causing monetary losses to the tune of Rs. 22.18 crore, he said.
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The first pig death due to ASF was reported at Lungsen village in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district bordering Bangladesh on March 21.
Since then the dreaded pig disease has spread to at least 103 villages and localities in nine districts, including Aizawl, Lalhmingthanga said.
Lunglei district bore the brunt of the pig disease reporting as many as 2,497 deaths, followed by Aizawl district with 1,874 deaths so far.
ASF is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages.
Experts said that it is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.
No vaccine against the virus is available till date.