Kohima, Aug 30: African Swine Fever (ASF) has been detected in Thizama Village, Kohima district, Nagaland, prompting authorities to designate a 1 km radius as an infected zone and a 10 km radius as a surveillance zone. A ban on slaughter, import, and export of pigs and piglets has been imposed.

In Mizoram, over 10,050 pigs have died and 18,300 culled due to ASF since February, resulting in huge financial losses for farmers and rearers. Despite a recent reduction in pig deaths, the outbreak continues in many districts.

The ASF outbreak has caused estimated losses of Rs 23-25 crore for pig farmers and rearers in the northeastern states since February. The disease is highly communicable among pigs, with a high mortality rate, but does not affect humans.

Authorities are working to contain the spread of ASF, which is a significant threat to the pork industry in the region, worth around Rs 8,000-10,000 crore annually.