CUDDALORE: Severe distress has hit poultry farmers near Cuddalore after around 5,600 chickens raised for the upcoming Deepavali festival died mysteriously across six farms in Kurinjipadi taluk over the past four to five days. The deaths were reported in several localities, including Thimmanampettai, Tiruchopuram and Kurinjipadi.Official laboratory test results have ruled out Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI). According to a report dated November 2 from the Poultry Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (PDDL) in Namakkal, tests found no evidence of LPAI infection. Results are awaited from the Pharmacovigilance Laboratory for Animal Feed and Food Safety (PLAFFS) in Madhavaram to determine whether toxins were present in the feed samples, according to a release from the Animal Husbandry Department.With the birds fully grown and ready for the festive market, poultry farmers have suffered significant financial losses. The farmers had stocked their farms in anticipation of peak Deepavali demand.The incident first came to light at a poultry farm in Thimmanampettai village under Thyagavalli panchayat, where 200 to 250 broiler chickens died mysteriously.Officials inspected the farm on October 30 and collected feed and drinking water samples for laboratory analysis. Subsequently, the remaining 3,500 chickens at the farm also died, resulting in 100% mortality. Deaths were also reported at five other farms, where 1,910 chickens perished. Samples from these farms were sent to PDDL in Namakkal and PLAFFS in Madhavaram for testing.All 5,600 dead chickens have been buried in deep pits in accordance with standard operating procedures. The Animal Husbandry Department has advised poultry farm owners in the area to strictly enforce biosecurity measures. These include restricting visitor access to farms, preventing the movement of chickens and farm workers between different units, disinfecting incoming vehicles and equipment, ensuring the safe and hygienic disposal of dead birds, and maintaining high standards of farm hygiene.As a precautionary measure, poultry farm owners in the affected zone have been instructed not to sell chickens or bring in or stock new chicks for three months. The department said intensive disease surveillance is continuing in the affected areas and that all necessary measures are being taken to prevent further mortality.
