Infection causing pig deaths in Mizoram border areas

The Mizoram government on Thursday said that PRRS, which has killed over 2,500 pigs in Champhai district near the Mizoram-Myanmar border in the past one-and-a-half month, has also infected some animals in the state’s Lunglei and Lawngtlai districts.

State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department officials said over 100 pigs have died in Lunglei due to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), while around 70 have died in Lawngtlai district due to the disease. Over 2,500 pigs have already fallen prey to the deadly disease in the border district of Champhai in past one and half month’s time, the officials said.

AH and veterinary director Saingura Sailo said efforts put in by veterinarians had yielded results as some of the PRRS victims responded to antibiotics and were recovering in Champhai and surrounding villages.

Meanwhile, District Magistrates of Aizawl, Champhai, Lunglei and Lawngtlai have issued orders, prohibiting the import of pigs from Myanmar, from where PRRS reportedly reached Mizoram. 

Lalbiaksangi, DM of Mizoram-Bangladesh-Tripura border district Mamit, also issued an order prohibiting the import of chicken, birds, ducks and egg from Bangladesh and Tripura state due to reported prevalence of bird flu.