Pig deaths mount in Arakan State amid suspected disease outbreak

26 Nov 2025

DMG Newsroom

26 November 2025, Kyauktaw

Pig farmers in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Myebon townships have reported a sharp rise in pig deaths due to suspected disease in recent weeks.

Hundreds of pigs have reportedly died of an unknown illness in villages including Khwasone, Taungmyint, Okkan, Tinhteinkan and Simoung in Mrauk-U Township since early November.

“There are so many pigs dying. I don’t know what disease it is. The pigs are vaccinated and treated, but they still die. It is very painful because they die at a good age, when prices are high, so we lose a lot,” said a woman who raises pigs in Mrauk-U Township.

Local residents say pig farmers are facing heavy financial losses due to the surge in deaths.

Livestock farmers note that ongoing fighting and displacement have disrupted operations across Arakan State. As consumer numbers rise, demand for meat and fish has increased, with pork fetching good prices.

At current rates, a pig costs around K2 million and a piglet about K350,000. But farmers say prices have recently fallen due to large numbers of pigs dying of disease.

The spike in deaths has raised fears that the disease could spread to other livestock.

“The pigs died after not eating for a week. Many pigs and piglets died. In our village alone, about 30 pigs have died. We are worried it will spread to other animals,” said a woman from Okkan Village in Mrauk-U Township.

A disease known as PCV2 tends to spread among pigs in cold weather, when weakened immune systems make animals more vulnerable. The disease is transmitted only between pigs.

To prevent illness, farmers say pigs should be raised with improved hygiene practices — including spraying hooves, washing food bowls after feeding, and keeping other pigs and people at a distance.

“Now livestock farmers can’t work as hard as they used to. In the past, if they raised pigs or chickens, they would keep 50 to 100 animals. Now they can’t find chicken feed, and they can’t afford to feed pigs, so they raise only a small number. If they get sick and die, they lose all their investment,” said a livestock farmer from Kyauktaw Township.

Arakan State needs to expand livestock production to ensure food security, but conflict and rising commodity prices have limited farmers to small-scale operations.

Livestock breeders are urging the authorities to provide capital and support so that current monoculture farming businesses can stay afloat.