27-Jun-2024 09:25 PM
7783
Aizawl, June 27 (Reporter) Casualties of pigs continue due to the resurgence of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, continue unabated in Mizoram with 136 deaths and 178 deaths on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, raising the toll since February 9 to 3,794, state animal husbandry and veterinary officials said on Thursday.
The officials said that Aizawl district continues to be the hardest hit as of Thursday, with 82 pig casualties, followed by central Serchhip district at 27 deaths, while northeastern Khawzawl and Assam border Kolasib districts record 15 and 12 deaths, respectively. Aibawk village in Aizawl district recorded the highest toll on Thursday at 32 among the 19 villages in the 4 districts.
At least 147 pigs were culled on Thursday, bringing the total number of pigs being culled this year to 7,207 to prevent further spread of the dreaded porcine disease, the officials said. Those culled are also from the same four districts.
The ASF infestation has spread to at least 131 villages in rural areas and localities in urban areas. An additional four villages were declared infected on Thursday.
State Veterinary Department records say that 33,417 pigs died due to ASF in 2021, 12,795 in 2022, and 1,039 in 2023. The first case of ASF was confirmed on March 21, 2021, at Mizoram-Bangladesh border Lungsen village in Bangladesh border Lunglei district, and the outbreak has reoccurred every year since then, claiming the lives of thousands of pigs and piglets.
The first case of ASF infection in the recurrence of the outbreak was detected at Mizoram-Myanmar border Leithum village in Champhai district on February 9...////...