PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):
THE MINISTRY of Agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago has ordered the slaughtering of more than 5,000 chickens, while denying the presence of deadly bird flu on the island.
As a result of the order, the entire flock at the Cyril Le Blanc farm at the farming village of Cumuto in East Trinidad was destroyed yesterday, following the outbreak of the fungal disease, which has been identified as Aspergillosis.
1,200 BIRDS DIED
Over the past three weeks some 1,200 birds died at the Le Blanc farm which is contracted by poultry giant Nutrimix to rear chicks.
Agriculture Minister Jarette Narine told the local media that the ministry had given instructions to have the remaining birds killed, and this was confirmed by Nutramix Managing Director Ronnie Mohammed.
While giving the assurance that the disease, which has wiped out the poultry stocks at the Le Blanc farm was not bird flu, the Agriculture Minister said yesterday's measure was taken to ensure that sick birds did not reach the marketplace and that health officials eradicate the disease.
In a release, the ministry gave the assurance that the infection was not transmitted from bird to bird, nor from birds to humans, but contracted from the environment.
