New Delhi: African swine flu (ASF) among pigs is back in Mizoram, reminding residents of an outbreak of the disease in 2021 that has since led to the death of at least 47,269 pigs and at least 25,182 culled in the state.

As per local reports, since January, Mizoram’s animal husbandry department has noted the death of as many as 657 pigs due to ASF. As many as 299 pigs have been culled too due to the disease and the numbers are rising by the week. The outbreak has been confirmed in at least four districts — Champai, Aizawl, Khawzawl and Saitual.

“Dulte village of Khawzawl district has been the worst hit with 134 deaths and 14 culled,” said the Mizoram Post, quoting details put out by the department.

The May 14 news report said the department, under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animal Act, 2009, has declared several villages and localities of even the capital city, Aizawl, as infected areas. “At places declared infected area, the export and import of pigs from (and to) the infected areas is strictly prohibited, including the sale and slaughter of healthy and sick pigs,” said the report.

In Aizawl itself, the Kulikawn locality is the worst affected and has so far reported 61 pigs dead and 79 culled due to the disease.

Pork is one of the major meat sources in Mizoram. Since 2021, “the amount of losses incurred due to the ASF outbreak in the state has been estimated to be over Rs 132.20 crore, affecting 19,017 families,” said IANS.

“According to experts, the outbreak of ASF may have been caused by pigs or pork brought from neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the adjoining states of the Northeast. With heavy demand for pork in the northeastern region, its annual business in the region is worth around Rs 8,000-Rs 10,000 crore, with Assam being the largest supplier,” added the May 13 news report.

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