The unidentified virus that has infected pigs was detected in Paletwa Township , southern Chin state, in the first week of April.

Local authorities have reportedly prohibited pig peddlers from transporting pigs from one village to another as a part of a preventive measure to stop the virus from spreading.

“It is a kind of skin disease as there are several spots on the skin of the pigs”, explained Mr. Dawt Mang, in-charge of the Chin backpack, team commenting on the symptoms of the disease.

The virus has probably affected about 80 percent of around 700 pigs being bred by locals in Para , Ramri, Hemate, Hemapi, Tlopi and Saiha village in Paletwa Township .

So far, there are no reports of diseased pigs being killed.

Locals mostly use Penicillin and Streptomycin as antibiotics to combat bacteria. They also fall back on traditional medicine made from leaves and roots of medicinal plants that they grow in the villages.

Traditionally, each local in remote areas of Chin state breeds domestic animals for family consumption. Among them, some are in it for commercial reasons.

Recently, authorities in Mizoram state in India banned entry of livestock and poultry from Chin state. – KNG.