Thousands of chickens gassed to death

More than half of the 18,000 chickens afflicted with Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT) at Noo Noo farms in Cunupia were gassed to death late yesterday by a senior vet attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and his team of assistants. The second batch of chickens will be killed today and the dead chickens are expected to be buried or burnt at the Beetham dump. Media personnel were prevented from taking pictures of the massive chicken kill by Ag Senior Vet at the Ministry of Agriculture David Kangaloo, who insisted that it was insensitive to record the events on camera. Reporters and photographers were advised not to enter any other poultry farms to ensure that the disease is not spread. Kangaloo said that the chickens will be killed by using carbon dioxide, and certain procedures will be put in place at the farm to ensure that the ILT disease is completely eradicated.

Kangaloo told Newsday that after the farm is depopulated, the logistics will be worked out to ensure that no environmental or public health issues arise. He also revealed that the Poultry Surveillance Unit is carrying out investigations to determine the source of the infection, since this is the first time that the disease has been discovered in Trinidad and Tobago. The senior vet issued a call yesterday for other chicken farmers, who may have suspicions that the chickens on their farms may be afflicted with ILT, to contact the Poultry Surveillance Unit at 642-0063. He said that the unit will be going to other chicken farms to carry out random tests. On Wednesday, owner of the farm Harry Noo Noo was assured that the chickens were earmarked to be destroyed. Noo Noo waited an entire day and no one showed up. Yesterday, he was visited by a vet who told him that she was putting things in place to secure the gas to destroy the chickens. Around 2.30 pm, the vet and others arrived at the quarantined farm with protective wear and equipment to destroy the chickens. An emotional Noo Noo, his son Lyndon and other members of his family looked on as Ministry of Agriculture employees prepared two bins for the chickens.

Noo Noo was assured that he will be properly compensated for his loss and that will be done at the discretion of the Minister of Agriculture. Noo Noo said that the entire episode has left him stressed out, but he is anxious to sanitise his farms, do some renovation work and then restock. Noo Noo has been in the poultry business for the past 35 years. A pet parrot which belongs to his daughter-in-law Simi is also earmarked to be gassed to death. Simi told Newsday that she had the parrot for two years and the bird has become part of her family. Her 12-year-old daughter Rebecca and son Mark, 12, have been crying every day since they learnt of the decision to put the parrot to death. Yesterday, Simi kissed the parrot and gently stroked his head as she enjoyed her final hours with him. The parrot is expected to be killed today. On January 21, chickens at the Noo Noo farm began dying. Post-mortem examinations on the birds were conducted by the staff at the Ministry of Agriculture and lesions were suggestive of Infectious Laryngotracheitis. There were no lesions suggestive of Bird Flu currently killing birds in Asia. On February 3, serum samples were sent to Veterinary Laboratories Agency in England.

Specific conditions were then enforced on the farm and Ministry staff monitored the farm to ensure no movement of the chickens and eggs were allowed unless they were cleaned with a solution of bleach. On February 20, results confirming ILT at the farm were received by the Ministry of Agriculture. The section of the legislation which provided for a police presence to ensure compliance was invoked. Up until late yesterday, the gassing of the chickens continued and the procedure will be repeated today.