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National Post

Cull of B.C. ostriches over avian flu concerns halted pending an appeal

A flock of nearly 400 British Columbia ostriches that gained international fame after they were ordered killed due to an avian flu outbreak have been given a stay of execution — at least for now. Article content The Federal Court of Appeal has granted the stay that pauses the potential cull at Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., which was ordered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in December and has become embroiled in court processes. Article content Article content Article content Article content 'You guys are safe until the appeal, we're going for the appeal,' she said, referring to the pasture of large birds. Article content She said the stay would be for about another month during the appeal process. Article content The farm's owners have argued the animals have developed herd immunity against avian flu and are valuable to science. Article content The inspection agency has said the type of avian flu infection at the farm is a mutation not seen elsewhere in Canada. It remains firm about the need to cull the herd. Article content 'There is no safe and feasible alternative to disposal of the ostriches at (Universal Ostrich Farm) that could effectively address the current risks to animal and human health posed by the outbreak,' Dr. Cathy Furness, deputy chief veterinary officer for Canada, said in an affidavit. Article content Article content Her affidavit says the agency typically culls birds after a positive test for avian flu within three days, but due to the 'protracted disease response (and) time associated with these legal proceedings,' environmental contamination has occurred for substantially longer at the farm than on any other premises subject to the agency's rapid disease response. Article content Article content 'The quick destruction of infected and exposed birds prevents a large amount of virus from accumulating on the infected premises,' the affidavit says. Article content 'Members of the public have also posted images on social media platforms which demonstrate that they are in very close proximity to ostriches and within the quarantined area.'