Aizawl, August 6: In response to the prolonged outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) that has devastated pig-rearing communities across Mizoram, Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh convened a high-level review meeting on August 5 at Raj Bhavan to assess the situation and discuss the way forward.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (A.H. & Vety.) Department, including Secretary Pu Lalsangliana and Director Dr. R. Zothanmawii. A detailed report presented by Deputy Director Dr. Esther Lalzoliani revealed alarming statistics: since the first reported case in Lungsen village in March 2021, ASF has claimed the lives of over 69,400 pigs, while 52,000 more were culled as a precautionary measure. The outbreak has impacted over 11,000 households, resulting in an estimated financial loss of ₹982 crore.
Governor Singh expressed deep concern over the socio-economic toll of the epidemic and emphasised the need for enhanced inter-departmental cooperation, public awareness, and technical support. He assured the Veterinary Department of his full backing and advocated for intensified containment and relief efforts.
Officials informed the Governor that ASF has now become endemic in the state, prompting the department to explore vaccine procurement from Vietnam, as India currently lacks an ASF vaccine. Funding constraints, particularly delays in central assistance, remain a major challenge in compensating affected farmers.
So far, compensation worth ₹1,451.91 lakh has been disbursed under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Disease scheme and from the Mizoram Disaster Management & Rehabilitation Department.
In a notable development, Mizoram has been selected among 14 states for the Pandemic Fund Project, which will help upgrade its Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and support NABL accreditation. Since March 2025, the lab has tested 221 samples, of which 142 were ASF-positive.
Further support is expected from the National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI), whose experts will visit Mizoram in September.
