Aizawl, Aug. 16 (PTI): The Mizoram government on Friday appealed to the people to cooperate with the administration in preventing and detecting illegal import of pigs, piglets and food items made of pork to prevent the possible outbreak of the African Swine Fever (ASF).
The disease is prevalent in China, Cambodia and Vietnam and other countries in their neighbourhood.
It has been detected in Myanmar on Wednesday and it is feared that it could reach its immediate neighbour Mizoram and adversely affect the piggeries in the state where pork products are widely consumed.
The state animal husbandry and veterinary department said in its appeal that
The veterinary department said though the import of pigs, piglets and frozen food items made of pork like sausages and meat balls was banned in the state, it was impossible for the government to seal the borders completely.
Mizoram shares a 404-kilometer-long porous border with Myanmar.
"There are some people who continue to smuggle pigs and piglets, as also frozen food from neighbouring countries despite prohibitory orders and the cooperation of the public is required," the department said in a statement.
The ASF is fatal for infected pigs, sources said adding that no such case was detected in the state so far.
The outbreak of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) in 2013, 2016 and last year had killed over 10,000 pigs in the state and now an outbreak of ASF would deal a major blow to the piggeries of the state, the officials warned.
