RFK Jr. urges Canadian well being officers to spare B.C. ostrich flock from cull

[ad_1] U.S. Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he has talked to Canadian well being officers about sparing a flock of ostriches in British Columbia which have been ordered killed on account of avian flu fears.

In an announcement posted to X, Kennedy says that he spoke with Canadian Meals Inspection Company (CFIA) president Paul MacKinnon on Thursday to debate the destiny of the roughly 400 ostriches at Common Ostrich in Edgewood, B.C. the place avian flu was detected in two useless birds in December 2024.

In a letter to MacKinnon and posted to X, Kennedy reiterates that he's "respectfully requesting" the CFIA "contemplate not culling the complete flock of ostriches," arguing "we imagine there's vital worth in finding out this inhabitants."

WATCH | Supporters collect at ostrich farm slated for cull: Protesters be part of B.C. ostrich farmers to struggle order to cull flock

Demonstrators are gathering at Common Ostrich farm in Edgewood, B.C., to protest a federal order to cull a flock of almost 400 after two ostriches examined constructive for avian flu in December. The farm misplaced a courtroom problem in opposition to the cull order final week. Among the many causes cited is the long-lived nature of the ostriches, and the likelihood that they could maintain details about antibodies to avian flu.

He goes on to put in writing that the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies, the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) and the Meals and Drug Administration Company (FDA) would offer their "full help and help" in conducting the testing and analysis proposed.

The letter, signed by Kennedy in addition to NIH director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary states that whereas the U.S. officers perceive the significance of stopping the unfold of avian flu, they imagine there's restricted worth in killing the surviving birds at Common Ostrich almost six months after the final chicken believed to be contaminated with avian flu died.

It additionally warns in opposition to a coverage of killing all birds in each flock contaminated, given the widespread nature of avian flu in wild chicken populations.

It isn't the primary time Kennedy has weighed in on the case, having beforehand been requested about it throughout an interview on a New York radio present and telling the host he was "horrified by the concept that they will kill these animals."

CFIA has stated cull will transfer ahead In an announcement, a CFIA spokesperson confirmed that MacKinnon had a name with Makary and Kennedy on Thursday, and that the U.S. officers despatched the company's president their letter — however the spokesperson offered few different particulars.

Earlier within the day, the company offered CBC Information with an announcement indicating the cull could be transferring ahead and it will not be retesting the birds. Nor would it not contemplate an exemption for its "stamping out" coverage, which is utilized to all "home poultry" flocks the place avian flu is detected, which incorporates ostriches and emus together with geese, chickens, and turkeys.

"Below Canada's stamping out coverage, all home birds at an contaminated premises are depopulated to manage the chance of additional unfold," the spokesperson wrote.

Court docket paperwork have proven that the CFIA had offered Common Ostrich with the process for making use of for an exemption however that it failed to satisfy the requirements required, which might contain proof that the birds have been thought of uncommon or distinctive sufficient to be spared. Strategies of proving this embody breeding books, recognition from an authorized breed affiliation or the poultry trade, or particular genomic testing, which the farm couldn't present.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A woman in plaid watches ostriches." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542903.1748044580!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/katie-pasitney.JPG?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542903.1748044580!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/katie-pasitney.JPG?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542903.1748044580!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/katie-pasitney.JPG?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542903.1748044580!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/katie-pasitney.JPG?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542903.1748044580!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/katie-pasitney.JPG?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542903.1748044580!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/katie-pasitney.JPG?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.49746192893401" data-cy="image-img"/> Katie Pasitney watches the ostriches on her mom's farm, Common Ostrich, on Could 21, 2025. (Camille Vernet/Radio-Canada) Just one exemption to a cull order has been granted in Canada, in a 2022 case of a turkey farm the place avian flu had been detected in two barns however not others on the premises, as a result of these animals had been saved separate and security measures had been taken to forestall the potential unfold of illness between the completely different buildings.

Tose circumstances don't exist at Common Ostrich the place inspectors noticed wild birds, weasels and "unauthorized people" strolling amongst contaminated animals, in violation of quarantine coverage.

In that earlier assertion, the CFIA says the coverage is constructed on the requirements of the World Organisation for Animal Well being and states {that a} "single laboratory confirmed case of H5 avian influenza is ample to declare a premises contaminated, given how simply the illness can unfold to different birds."

It says within the case of Common Ostrich farm, the illness was confirmed by the gathering of duplicate samples of two not too long ago deceased birds.

Supporters collect The farm has attracted many supporters from Canada and internationally, a couple of dozen of whom have stationed themselves on the property following a Could 13 federal courtroom ruling stating that the cull might transfer ahead.

The choose in that ruling didn't weigh in on the scientific arguments of the case, ruling that the CFIA has a mandate from the federal authorities to deal with circumstances like culls, and it will be inappropriate for the judiciary to become involved.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Signs saying, Stronger Together, and an inflatable ostrich lean against a wire fence." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542899.1748314452!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/ostrich-farm.JPG?im=Resize%3D300 300w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542899.1748314452!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/ostrich-farm.JPG?im=Resize%3D460 460w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542899.1748314452!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/ostrich-farm.JPG?im=Resize%3D620 620w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542899.1748314452!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/ostrich-farm.JPG?im=Resize%3D780 780w,https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542899.1748314452!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/ostrich-farm.JPG?im=Resize%3D1180 1180w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 300px,(max-width: 460px) 460px,(max-width: 620px) 620px,(max-width: 780px) 780px,(max-width: 1180px) 1180px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/1.7542899.1748314452!/fileImage/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/original_1180/ostrich-farm.JPG?im=" style="aspect-ratio:1.49746192893401" data-cy="image-img"/> Indicators and a prop put up by supporters of Common Ostrich. (Camille Vernet/Radio-Canada) As a substitute, the ruling stated the CFIA had adopted the right channels and insurance policies in making its determination.

The CFIA argued that its insurance policies are based mostly on scientific analysis, in addition to Canada's worldwide obligations to attempt to forestall avian flu from mutating and spreading additional, probably making it extra harmful to each people and animals.

A number of politicians, together with B.C. Premier David Eby, have expressed frustration that the CFIA has not carried out extra flexibility on the person case.

Jordan Kealy, an impartial MLA and farmer who visited Common Ostrich, advised CBC Information many individuals who increase livestock are involved in regards to the stamping out coverage, arguing that given avian flu has unfold so extensively into wild birds it's almost not possible to forestall potential an infection whereas nonetheless permitting animals to work together with the surface world.

Nonetheless, the CFIA says it acknowledges each the financial and emotional influence of culls, which is why it presents compensation for any animals killed — as much as $3,000 per animal within the case of ostriches.

Tough determination: professor Fiona Brinkman, a professor at Simon Fraser College's division of molecular biology and biochemistry, advised CBC Information after the courtroom determination that the CFIA is in a troublesome place within the face of a extremely infectious illness which impacts not simply birds but in addition mammals, together with people.

"It is a actually robust one," she stated in an interview with CBC Dawn South host Chris Walker. "That is finally a tragedy of a pathogen that's now a risk to a number of industries and lots of animals."

The best worry, she stated, is {that a} new variant of avian flu might mutate that's much more harmful to animals and people.

However, she stated, she had hoped the CFIA would conduct new assessments on the ostriches now that a lot time has handed because the preliminary cull order was given.

"I do hope they are going to perform a little bit extra investigation," she stated.

LISTEN | Biology professor weighs in on ostrich cull order: Dawn South 7:44 B.C. professor thinks CFIA ought to accumulate extra information earlier than implementing an order to cull a herd of ostriches

Fiona Brinkman is a professor at Simon Fraser College's division of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. She weighs in on the order to cull a herd of ostriches in southwest B.C. Brinkman famous that for many home flocks of birds, the mortality charge as soon as avian flu is detected is upwards of 90 per cent however that was not the case for ostriches, with the bulk nonetheless alive. Nonetheless, that additionally meant the virus might "linger" within the birds for an extended time frame, probably spreading to wild flocks.

"There's an actual downside with the birds not with the ability to be sheltered," she stated. "Poultry, for instance, you'll be able to put them in a barn. That is not acceptable for ostriches."