Mizoram gastroenteritis outbreak kills 8 in border districts, containment zone declared

Guwahati: The death toll from a gastroenteritis outbreak in Mizoram’s southern districts of Lawngtlai and Siaha has risen to eight, health authorities reported on Thursday.

The fatalities include five people from Kakichhuah village in Lawngtlai and three from Lodaw village in Siaha, both located near the Myanmar border.

The outbreak was first reported in Kakichhuah on November 4, with additional cases emerging in Lomaso and Lodaw villages on November 5 and 11, respectively.

Currently, Kakichhuah has 27 infected individuals, while Lomaso and Lodaw report 14 and 4 cases each.

In response, Lawngtlai district administration sent a medical team on Tuesday, while Siaha Deputy Commissioner VL Hruaizela and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lalrengpuii Ralte dispatched another team the same evening.

Dr. C. Lalzampuii, leading the Lawngtlai medical team, indicated that the disease may have spread from people entering Kakichhuah from Myanmar’s Salachhuah village.

The five deceased in Kakichhuah belonged to the Khumi community, primarily refugees from Myanmar.

Samples from the affected villages have been sent to Zoram Medical College & Hospital for testing.

To contain the outbreak, Lawngtlai DC Donny Lalruatsanga declared Kakichhuah a containment zone, restricting movement except for medical and emergency personnel.

The entry point connecting Salachhuah and Kakichhuah has also been temporarily closed.

Both districts host a large number of Myanmar refugees, and frequent cross-border movement continues due to their close proximity to Myanmar.