EDGEWOOD, B.C.—A B.C. ostrich farm is weighing its options in its fight to stop its flock of 399 ostriches from being killed as a federal cull order could descend on their property at any time following failed court challenges to stop the order.
Universal Ostrich Farms (UOF) in the rural community of Edgewood, B.C., has become the centre of international attention following an order by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to cull its flock at the beginning of this year after saying it found two cases of H5N1 avian flu last December.
According to the CFIA, the ostrich herd poses a threat to humans and animals, and the birds’ form of H5N1 contains a genotype tied to a human infection in Ohio, bringing up concerns of mutation and public health danger….