Aizawl: Cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been confirmed among wild boars in Mizoram’s Kolasib district, officials said on Tuesday.
According to Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department Deputy Director Esther Lalzoliani, locals discovered highly decomposed carcasses near Saipum village earlier this month.
Samples collected from the remains tested positive for ASF, with confirmatory results also received from the College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry in Selesih.
Residents reported finding carcasses on September 7 and again on September 18.
Following the discovery, Saipum village council-I president Lalnunsanga Pulamte announced restrictions on hunting and on bringing any wild animal remains into the village.
In response, Kolasib Deputy Commissioner Robert C. Lalhmangaiha issued an order on Monday banning the hunting and sale of both fresh and dried wild animal meat across the district.
ASF outbreaks are not new to Mizoram. In July 2022, wild boars were found dead in Champhai district, with tests confirming ASF as the cause.
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The disease was first detected in March 2021 in Lungsen village, Lunglei district, near the Bangladesh border.
Since the initial outbreak, ASF has killed 71,679 pigs in the state, while 52,865 others have been culled to curb its spread.
This year alone, 9,378 pigs have died and 3,454 more have been culled across 162 villages in eight districts, according to government records
