Reading Time: 2 minutes An unusually early outbreak of bird flu cases affecting high numbers of wild birds and poultry farms across Europe and North America is raising concerns of a repeat of previous crises that led to mass culling and food price spikes.
Europe, North America face early wave of bird flu cases
Washington State resident dies in first confirmed H5N5 bird flu case, health department says
Reading Time: < 1 minute A Washington State resident receiving treatment for H5N5 avian influenza died on Friday, the state’s health department said, in the first confirmed human case of this variant globally.
How we’re tracking avian flu’s toll on wildlife across North America
Reading Time: 4 minutes Avian influenza is a virus that is clearly a threat to livestock and human health. Our team, a collaboration of governments and academics across the country, recently assessed the extent of HPAI A(H5Nx) in at-risk species across Canada.
B.C. ostrich owner condemns violence near embattled farm
Reading Time: 2 minutes One of the owners of Universal Ostrich near Edgewood, B.C. condemned the alleged assault and arson against one of the farm’s neighbours said to have been committed by a protestor. The farm is in a legal battle with federal authorities over a cull order of the farm’s ostriches, which contracted avian influenza.
B.C. ostrich flock cull paused amid U.S. push to save them
.
Reading Time: 2 minutes A flock of British Columbia ostriches set to be culled after two dead birds tested positive for avian flu has been granted a last-minute stay of execution from Canada’s highest court - for now.
Universal Ostrich Farm loses CFIA cull appeal
Embattled farm has drawn international attention since cull was ordered due to bird flu cases
Reading Time: 2 minutes Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C. lost its appeal to stop an ordered cull of over 400 birds.
Bird flu virus could be airborne: study
Reading Time: 2 minutes A research study from the United States suggests that bird flu could have spread amongst cattle through the air or contaminated wastewater at dairy farms.
U.S. billionaire supports embattled B.C. ostrich farm
Reading Time: 2 minutes A New York City-based businessman is financially supporting the owners of an ostrich farm in British Columbia as they dispute an order from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to cull the birds.
US CDC ends emergency bird flu response as infections decline
Reading Time: 2 minutes The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday it has ended its emergency response for H5N1 bird flu, owing to a decline in animal infections and no reports of human cases since February.
Brazil poised to declare itself bird flu ‘free,’ state official says
Reading Time: < 1 minute Brazil is ready to declare the country free of the bird flu virus on commercial flocks, Edivilson Brum, the head of Rio Grande do Sul state’s agriculture department, said on Wednesday in a statement.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
