RFK Jr offers to save Canadian ostriches with suspected bird flu and move them to US
GuardianMAY 26
US Officials Join Call to Halt Canadian Ostrich Cull
Above: A group of ostriches at HorseFeathers Ostrich Farm in Webster, New Hampshire on May 9, 2024. Image copyright: Jessica Rinaldi/Contributor/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
The dangerous conspiracies of RFK Jr. must be resisted. The CFIA's cull order follows established international protocols essential for containing highly pathogenic avian flu outbreaks. Allowing infected flocks to remain alive creates an ongoing risk of virus mutation and transmission to wild birds, potentially threatening both animal and human health while risking severe economic consequences for Canada's poultry industry through trade restrictions. This is a biosecurity risk.
Pro-Trump narrative
The ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farm have shown remarkable resistance to avian flu, with over 300 remaining healthy under strict quarantine. Used in antibody research targeting avian flu with Kyoto University, they offer vital insight into disease immunity. Culling them would not only undermine promising science but also devastate a family farm that cares deeply for these long-lived, intelligent birds. The Trump administration is pursuing a wise and intriguing path for the public good.