World body issues alert over Mizoram outbreak

Since this is the first time that Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is identified in the history of the country,the reason for notification as first occurrence applies to the country but the event is in fact circumscribed to a zone, it added.

The PRRS virus was detected by two government laboratories located in Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh in samples from pigs that had died from the outbreak.

Altogether,the state government has identified more than 3,800 pigs as having died after the outbreak began in March,with more than 5,600 pigs having fallen ill but later recovered.

The Centre had recently directed the state to cull all affected pigs.

Meanwhile,the Deputy Commissioner of Lunglei district on Friday banned the import of pigs and pork from neighbouring Myanmar for two months.

It is believed that the virus has spread here due to import of pigs from Myanmar,and therefore the import of pigs for rearing or for eating in any form is prohibited, DC V Sapchhunga said in a public statement.

Other districts are expected to follow suit.