AIZAWL: Mizoram will stop importing poultry, pigs and cattle from Bangladesh as well as other States after several thousand animals died due to diseases, an official said here on Tuesday. “We have asked the district magistrates to take suitable steps to stop import of chicken, bird, duck, egg, cattle and pig from Bangladesh and neighbouring States of the Northeast in view of the diseases among cattle and pigs,” an official of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said.
Several thousand pigs and cattle have died in the last few weeks in Mizoram, especially in Champhai district in eastern part of the State due to Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and foot and mouth disease. He said, “Samples from the dead pigs and cattle are being tested in laboratories in and outside the State and experts have been sent to Champhai and other districts to take appropriate steps to prevent further spread of the diseases.”
The State Government has issued an order banning sale of all domestic animals from other villages within and outside the disease-affected districts in Mizoram. The Government also asked the people not to sell or consume pork, cattle meat and poultry products in the disease-affected and adjoining areas. Mizoram shares an international border of 404 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh, causing immense scope for smuggling of animals, drugs, arms and ammunition and other things across the border.
