Aizawl: Over 2,900 pigs and piglets have died in Mizoram because of the outbreak of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) and classical swine fever (CSF) since March this year, officials said on Tuesday.

Officials of the state animal husbandry and veterinary department said the PRRS outbreak originated from Zokhawthar village in Champhai district along the Mizoram-Myanmar border.

At least 2,952 pigs and piglets have died and 6,664 others were taken ill because of the disease and the outbreak till last week, the officials said.

The officials said about 101 villages in seven districts of Mizoram have been affected by the two swine-related diseases.

Lunglei district in south Mizoram has been declared safe due to the timely usage of vaccines.

Of the 467 blood samples, 255 have been tested positive for PRRS, while 200 were found to be infected with CSF, officials said.

Aizawl district has recorded the highest number of pig deaths.

Animal husbandry and veterinary department officials also said they could not figure out the exact number of pigs that had died due to PRRS and CSF as the already dead pigs could not be inclusively examined.

The first case of PRRS during the current year was identified from Zokhawthar village on March 17 and that of CSF was detected on April 13, they said.

The PRRS also hit Mizoram in 2013 and 2016.

More than 3,000 pigs and piglets died in 2013 and over 4,000 pigs had been culled as a result of the outbreak of the respiratory syndrome in 2016.