In a bid to prevent the outbreak of Swine Flu within its territory, the Mizoram government has started restricting the import of pigs from Burma.

According to a report, the government shut down Indo-Myanmar border trade no.2 on May 3, 2009 as the first step towards prevention of the disease.

The second step would be posting some medical staff in Zokhawthar village, which is located in Champhai District, near the border area on the road of No. 2 border trade. They will check all those people, who are coming from Burma. Other border roads also would be monitored and checked by the security personnel and medical experts.

Due to the closure of the border gate, many traders and domestic animals like pigs are stuck in the border area. There has been no further information regarding when the gate would reopen.

“My pigs, almost 80 in number are being kept at Tiau gate for a week. There are more than 200 pigs from Kalemyo. We do not know when it will be opened,” a trader of domestic animals said.

The Swine Flu disease broke out in Mexico, initially, this year. It is a disease pigs are afflicted with and it can also be fatal for humans. According to a WHO report, on May 5, 2009, 29 people have been killed due to this disease, 1490 have been infected and the disease has already spread to 21 countries.

The disease, called SARS which had originated from China spread all over the world, except in Mizoram state, India.

According to a source, hundreds of pigs died in Twenti town on April 26, 2009, in Rangoon Division. The Health Department has undertaken investigations in this regard.