A B.C. regional district board has voted to refuse ostrich carcasses from an Edgewood, B.C., farm to be disposed of at local landfills unless the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) does further testing on the birds before it culls them.
The CFIA made the decision to cull 400 birds at the Universal Ostrich Farm, citing public safety issues, after two tested positive for H5N1, or avian flu. A court upheld the CFIA’s order after the owners of the farm challenged the decision, arguing that the birds have developed herd immunity and could be used for research. The CFIA says the birds need to be culled to prevent spreading of the disease.
