Mizoram govt declares ban on consuming rats

Aizawl, Sep 29 (UNI) The Mizoram government has imposed a ban on consuming rats and warned the people of the dangers of acquiring dreadful diseases.

The warning came soon after reports of increase in rodent population across the state due to bamboo flowering or 'mautam' came in.

The state's Animal Husbandry and Vety's (AHV) disease investigation wing has discovered that rats, which have started proliferating because of the bamboo flowering, are carrying diseases including plague, that can be communicated to humans.

AHV director Dr Sangnghina said about 90 'mautam' rats were collected from different places for examination in the disease investigation lab.

Later it was found that rats were carrying dangerous disease, which could cause harm to human beings, he added.

Pointing out that the habit of eating rats by some people, who used to trap and catch rats in jhum fields during and after harvets of paddy, the state disease Investigation Laboratory has issued a warning to avoid catching rats with bare hands and to avoid toucing dead rats.

People have also been warned not to dispose of dead rats in the nearby gutters.

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