The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expressed concerns about the lingering delay in the process of eliminating ostriches at a farm in British Columbia, citing potential risks to both animal and human health. In an official statement released on Friday, the agency stated that the birds will continue to be fed under veterinary supervision using feed from the usual suppliers of Universal Ostrich Farms.
Approximately 300 to 330 ostriches reside on the southeastern B.C. farm, with efforts ongoing to determine an exact count, as reported by the agency. While one ostrich on-site is noted to have compromised health, specific details regarding the condition were not disclosed in the statement.
Following a recent last-minute intervention by the Supreme Court of Canada, the birds on the farm have been granted a temporary reprieve from the cull. The court has enforced a stay until a decision is made on whether to hear the case, indicating that the birds will remain alive pending the court’s ruling on the matter raised by Universal Ostrich Farms.
The cull was initially ordered due to an avian flu outbreak at the farm, a decision contested by the farm’s owners who claim that the surviving birds are healthy and hold scientific significance. Despite their challenges, both the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal have dismissed their arguments.
After confirming the outbreak, a laboratory in Winnipeg isolated the virus and conducted whole genome sequencing. The CFIA revealed that the virus is a unique reassortment not previously detected in Canada, with a genotype linked to a human infection in an Ohio poultry worker.
The agency emphasized the increased pathogenicity of this particular H5N1 genotype resulting from the reassortment event, warning that even small quantities of the virus could be fatal. CFIA officials, in collaboration with the RCMP, have maintained custody of the birds since the stay order was issued.
The case has garnered international attention, with supporters rallying at the farm and an extensive online campaign initiated to halt the cull. Mounties have initiated investigations into reported threats of violence against businesses associated with the CFIA operation.
The ostriches issue has also been raised in the House of Commons, with MP Mel Arnold questioning Health Minister Marjorie Michel about the necessity of the cull. In response, Michel cited collaboration with the agriculture minister and refrained from further comments due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
CFIA reiterated its stamping-out policy for farms affected by avian flu to safeguard human and animal health and maintain international trade access. Wild birds are believed to be the primary source of infections, with a noted increase in outbreaks during migration periods. Since 2022, CFIA has ordered the destruction of millions of birds in Canada, predominantly from commercial flocks.