A British Columbia ostrich farm is challenging a Canadian Food Inspection Agency order to cull its entire flock of 400 birds due to an avian flu outbreak. The owners argue that the remaining birds are healthy and pose little risk, while the CFIA insists on the cull to prevent further spread of the virus.
A B.C. ostrich farm ordered to kill off its entire herd of roughly 400 birds due to an avian flu infection is fighting back in court and in the court of public opinion. Universal Ostrich, located near Edgewood in the West Kootenay region, has seen a growing number of supporters who believe the cull order is an example of government overreach. The farm's owners, Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski, have raised some of the birds facing death for decades.
Their daughter, Katie Pasitney, acting as a spokesperson, argues that while some ostriches have died from avian flu, they represent a small percentage of the flock. She claims the remaining older ostriches are healthy and that the farm has reached herd immunity. Pasitney says their lawyer has filed an emergency order in the B.C. Supreme Court to prevent the cull, hoping for a hearing on Friday. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued the cull order on December 31st after detecting avian flu at the farm. They gave the owners a deadline of February 1st to eliminate the ostriches. The CFIA maintains that its priority is to minimize the risk of the virus spreading, including to humans, and cites the Health of Animals Act as justification for the cull. Meanwhile, the farm highlights its research into ostriches' disease-fighting abilities, claiming a partnership with Japan's Kyoto Prefectural University to study the birds' potential role in battling avian flu
Avian Flu Ostrich Farm Cull Order Canadian Food Inspection Agency British Columbia
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