Mizoram: The north eastern state of Mizoram is currently battling a severe outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), which has resulted in the deaths of over 9,380 pigs and impacted approximately 3,690 families across 162 villages in eight districts, according to official reports.
A senior official from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD) stated that the highly contagious disease continues to spread rapidly with no signs of slowing. So far, around 3,455 pigs have been culled across the affected districts as part of ongoing containment efforts.
Pig farmers in the state have reportedly suffered an estimated financial loss of ₹110.36 crore since the outbreak began.
Siaha district in southern Mizoram remains the worst affected, recording more than 3,380 pig deaths in 38 villages, affecting 1,295 families. Around 935 pigs have been culled in the district. Other significantly impacted districts include Lawngtlai, Khawzawl, Hnahthial, Lunglei, Serchhip, Mamit, and Champhai.
Lawngtlai follows Siaha closely, with 1,771 pig deaths affecting 381 families across 18 villages. Lunglei has reported the highest number of pigs culled—1,619—followed by Siaha with 935.
The state government continues to appeal to farmers to remain vigilant and cooperate with veterinary authorities. With ASF posing a serious threat to the state’s pig population, containment and biosecurity measures remain a top priority.
To control the spread, the veterinary department has undertaken mass culling and deployed multiple teams to regularly monitor affected areas and respond quickly to new cases.
In a recent review meeting, Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Vijay Kumar Singh discussed the ASF situation with senior AHVD officials. They noted that the first confirmed ASF case in Mizoram was reported in Lunges village, Lunglei district, in March 2021.
Since then, the state has seen approximately 72,000 pig deaths, while more than 53,000 pigs have been culled to prevent further outbreaks. The ongoing crisis has affected around 11,382 households and caused an estimated loss of ₹1,000 crore.
To support affected farmers, ₹1,451.915 lakh has been disbursed as compensation under the state's animal disease control program. Additionally, ₹477.08 lakh was provided by the Mizoram Disaster Management and Rehabilitation (DMR) Department for pigs lost to the disease.
Though ASF does not infect humans, it is highly infectious and often fatal for pigs, making it a significant threat to both livestock and the local economy. Pork is one of the most widely consumed meats in the Northeast, especially among tribal and non-tribal communities.
With pork being a major part of the region’s diet, the pork industry is valued at approximately ₹8,000–10,000 crore annually. Assam is the largest supplier within the region. However, experts suspect that the cross-border movement of pigs and pork products may be a key factor contributing to the repeated outbreaks.
Mizoram shares an unfenced 510-km border with Myanmar and a 318-km border with Bangladesh. Myanmar’s Chin State borders six Mizoram districts—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip—raising concerns about the uncontrolled entry of infected livestock.
Authorities are continuing surveillance and implementing strict measures in affected areas to prevent further spread of the disease.