Latest news with #CFIA
CTV News
19 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Family that operates B.C. ostrich farm pushes back against CFIA claims
Supporters of Universal Ostrich Farms stand near ostriches at the farm's property in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Hundreds of supporters flocked to the farm over the Victoria Day long weekend to protest the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's order to cull 400 ostriches. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens The family that operates an ostrich farm in British Columbia's interior is pushing back on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which is poised to cull around 400 birds at the farm due to avian flu. Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., said during Facebook Live stream event Saturday night that the ordered cull is based on misinformation. The agency said on Friday the avian flu infection present at the farm is a mutation not seen anywhere else in Canada. Pasitney said during the livestream the CFIA is exaggerating the human health risks, noting it is not based in sound science. She also said that contrary to what the agency claims, there has not been widespread testing at the farm. While the CFIA has fined the farm $20,000, Pasitney said more information will be coming on Monday about what is happening at the farm and what has been shared with the federal agency. This report by David Boles, The Canadian Press, was first published June 1, 2025.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Family that operates B.C. ostrich farm pushes back against CFIA claims
The family that operates an ostrich farm in British Columbia's interior is pushing back on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency., which is poised to cull around 400 birds at the farm due to avian flu. Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., said during Facebook Live stream event Saturday night that the ordered cull is based on misinformation. The agency said on Friday the avian flu infection present at the farm is a mutation not seen anywhere else in Canada. Pasitney said during the livestream the CFIA is exaggerating the human health risks, noting it is not based in sound science. She also said that contrary to what the agency claims, there has not been widespread testing at the farm. While the CFIA has fined the farm $20,000, Pasitney said more information will be coming on Monday about what is happening at the farm and what has been shared with the federal agency. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. David Boles, The Canadian Press
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
B.C. ostrich farm at heart of avian flu debate upbeat despite looming federal cull
Supporters of Universal Ostrich Farms stand near an ostrich at the farm's property in Edgewood, B.C., on Saturday, May 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Hemens EDGEWOOD, B.C. — The family that operates the British Columbia ostrich farm where some 400 birds face being euthanized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says spirits remain high among protesters looking to stave off the cull. Katie Pasitney, whose parents own Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, B.C., say about 130 protesters are at the farm, and the group is holding an 'indigenous culture' prayer circle every morning. Pasitney says the atmosphere at the farm has been 'beautiful' despite the CFIA issuing a statement on Friday saying the farmers resisting the cull have not substantiated claims of scientific research on the birds that survived an avian flu outbreak. The federal agency says the infection at the farm is a mutation of the avian flu not seen elsewhere, and the cull is still planned while the farm has been fined $20,000. The statement is a rejection of proposals by U.S. officials, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling to save the affected ostriches. Pasitney says the farm is also working on a statement responding to what the CFIA said in its latest release in a bid to 'debunk' the federal agency's reasons for continuing the cull. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2025.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Health crisis: Mutated bird flu never seen before in Canada sparks mass ostrich cull order at BC farm; Owners refuse as US Health Officials beg to save the birds
Federal concerns over biosecurity Live Events Family defies cull, cites immunity International Figures Urge Delay Legal Appeal and Protests Continue The broader concern (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel 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 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 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 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 owners say the surviving birds have shown signs of herd immunity and could be valuable for scientific 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 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 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 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 discovery of this mutated strain comes as global health authorities monitor a troubling rise in avian influenza recent years, the H5N1 virus has been detected in mammals, including sea lions, bears, and even house pets, raising fears of potential transmission to human cases remain rare, experts warn that mutations like the one found in Edgewood could signal evolving risks to public health.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Health crisis: Mutated bird flu never seen before in Canada sparks mass ostrich cull order at BC farm; Owners refuse as US Health Officials beg to save the birds
Federal concerns over biosecurity Live Events Family defies cull, cites immunity International Figures Urge Delay Legal Appeal and Protests Continue The broader concern (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel 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 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 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 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 owners say the surviving birds have shown signs of herd immunity and could be valuable for scientific 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 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 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 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 discovery of this mutated strain comes as global health authorities monitor a troubling rise in avian influenza recent years, the H5N1 virus has been detected in mammals, including sea lions, bears, and even house pets, raising fears of potential transmission to human cases remain rare, experts warn that mutations like the one found in Edgewood could signal evolving risks to public health.
