A British Columbia ostrich farm is under federal pressure to cull hundreds of ostrich birds after a rare and concerning strain of avian influenza was found, one not seen elsewhere in Canada.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Friday(May 30) that Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood has been fined $20,000 for failing to cooperate with containment measures, including ignoring quarantine orders and not reporting bird deaths during an earlier outbreak.
The CFIA confirmed that the virus on the farm is a mutation of H5N1 that includes a genotype linked to a human case in an Ohio poultry worker. It warned that the situation poses a serious risk to both animal and public health.
The agency said the farm failed to implement standard biosecurity controls, such as keeping wild birds out, containing water flow between quarantine zones, and securing fencing, actions the CFIA says “significantly increase the risk of disease transmission.”
The farm lost 69 ostriches between December and January due to the outbreak, and around 400 birds remain.
Farm owners say the surviving birds have shown signs of herd immunity and could be valuable for scientific research.
However, the CFIA said, “CFIA has not received any evidence of scientific research being done at the infected premises.” It added that the farm's facilities are not suitable for controlled studies and that no research documentation was provided during the owners' request for exemption or court hearings.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote to the CFIA’s president last week, calling for the birds to be spared for joint research. Dr. Mehmet Oz, now administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also supported preserving the flock and offered to relocate the birds to his Florida ranch.
But the CFIA rejected these proposals.
A Federal Court judge ruled on May 13 that the cull could proceed. The farm has appealed the decision, but has not been granted a stay. Protesters have been at the site for weeks, with more arriving Friday in a convoy, according to social media footage.
The CFIA confirmed plans for “humane depopulation with veterinary oversight” are moving forward. It said ongoing delays are “resulting in ongoing health risks to animals and humans.”
The broader concern
The discovery of this mutated strain comes as global health authorities monitor a troubling rise in avian influenza cases.
In recent years, the H5N1 virus has been detected in mammals, including sea lions, bears, and even house pets, raising fears of potential transmission to humans.
While human cases remain rare, experts warn that mutations like the one found in Edgewood could signal evolving risks to public health.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Friday(May 30) that Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood has been fined $20,000 for failing to cooperate with containment measures, including ignoring quarantine orders and not reporting bird deaths during an earlier outbreak.
The CFIA confirmed that the virus on the farm is a mutation of H5N1 that includes a genotype linked to a human case in an Ohio poultry worker. It warned that the situation poses a serious risk to both animal and public health.
Federal concerns over biosecurity
The agency said the farm failed to implement standard biosecurity controls, such as keeping wild birds out, containing water flow between quarantine zones, and securing fencing, actions the CFIA says “significantly increase the risk of disease transmission.”
The farm lost 69 ostriches between December and January due to the outbreak, and around 400 birds remain.
Family defies cull, cites immunity
Farm owners say the surviving birds have shown signs of herd immunity and could be valuable for scientific research.
However, the CFIA said, “CFIA has not received any evidence of scientific research being done at the infected premises.” It added that the farm's facilities are not suitable for controlled studies and that no research documentation was provided during the owners' request for exemption or court hearings.
International Figures Urge Delay
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote to the CFIA’s president last week, calling for the birds to be spared for joint research. Dr. Mehmet Oz, now administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, also supported preserving the flock and offered to relocate the birds to his Florida ranch.
But the CFIA rejected these proposals.
Legal Appeal and Protests Continue
A Federal Court judge ruled on May 13 that the cull could proceed. The farm has appealed the decision, but has not been granted a stay. Protesters have been at the site for weeks, with more arriving Friday in a convoy, according to social media footage.
The CFIA confirmed plans for “humane depopulation with veterinary oversight” are moving forward. It said ongoing delays are “resulting in ongoing health risks to animals and humans.”
The broader concern
The discovery of this mutated strain comes as global health authorities monitor a troubling rise in avian influenza cases.
In recent years, the H5N1 virus has been detected in mammals, including sea lions, bears, and even house pets, raising fears of potential transmission to humans.
While human cases remain rare, experts warn that mutations like the one found in Edgewood could signal evolving risks to public health.
