Jan Hajek

Chicken P
Totally - that's how even ID docs refer to it - fever and rash - you must have Chicken P

If we want a policy approach of not culling but testing and caring for animals that have been infected to help them get better and prevent spread to others - then what happened in December seems relevant

We may have different standards for what counts as relevant. I will pause here to reflect. 🙏

I am for challenging and improving policies

But, I think the majority of actions of this farm have done a disservice

My understanding is that it was not until an anonymous person, concerned about seeing many dead and dying ostriches in the yard of the farm called CFIA that any testing was done

OK - but the policy doesn't care if they are still shedding or not

H5N1 infected and now immune/semi-immune poultry also not tolerated by the policy

Right now, the Canadian, and US, poultry industry policies don't even allow for poultry raised for commercial purposes to be vaccinated against H5N1

So he's wrong about how influenza is transmitted among birds - but that's irrelevant?

Influenza does not have a chronic carrier state (I don't think I have never made any such suggestion)

He goes on to say that flu is not spread through environmental contamination - it's hard to give that a pass (birds primarily spread through GI tract, not respiratory)

It's also hard to take the farm owners seriously about not killing ostriches for the ostriches sake

My understanding is that most ostrich farms slaughter ostriches for meat at about one year

Yes - that makes sense, if they are slaughtering chickens (that can live about 10 years) at 8 weeks it makes a difference to the industry economics

Another important difference is that chickens are faced with much higher mortality from H5N1 infection than ostriches

I'm not familiar with their evolutionary history - but I think you may be overstating about 200X? Don't both have very long evolutionary history? Don't both deserve respect?

Your statement about transmission doesn't fit with what Pelch was saying on that podcast

That's possible

In large part it may be influenced by the poultry industries, dominated by chicken businesses, in what kind of policies they want enforced (from economic lens)

Interesting to look at experiences with influenza outbreaks on large ostrich farms in South Africa

My point was that Pelch seems to claim that flu is only transmitted through respiratory route, not through environmental contamination\

My understanding is that the poultry industry has a policy of cull if exposed - even if they test negative (it's not a public health order)

Nice

Thank you for being here (Bluesky)

I worry about fallout from the hellsite (Twitter X)

Many interesting points

When experts in a particular field like me or Pelch, go outside our area, into other areas, we need to be careful

Pelch may not realize that birds spread flu via GI shedding into environment

Ultimately, this is a policy that the poultry business industry wants (for now)

B.C. ostrich farm developing antibodies that could put an end to coronavirus 'This is going to be a game changer'

Complex situation

Just 3 years ago, they were promoting ostrich meat as "the new beef"

Then they started VACCINATING the ostriches against COVID to collect the antibodies against COVID from their eggs

www.nsnews.com/coronavirus-...

Cc @jenstden.bsky.social @picardonhealth.bsky.social 👆

Large African birds crowded on Canadian farms — what could go wrong? A less costly way to reduce the pandemic risks associated with ostrich farming in Canada would be to stop doing it.

A better way to reduce the pandemic risks associated with ostrich farming in Canada would be to stop doing it -

Stop breeding, confining and crowding large African birds together on fenced in yards and farms in Canada....

www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/17/o...

AHS testing people in relation to bird flu outbreak at petting farm, Calgary Zoo taking precautions | CBC News Alberta Health Services has confirmed 17 people have been referred for testing and all “symptomatic workers” at Butterfield Acres Petting Farm are being tested after nine cases of Influenza A H5, comm...

Interested to learn what happens at this petting zoo👇 - considering the situation at the BC ostrich farm (a farm that was vaccinating ostriches against COVID to generate antibodies in their eggs)...

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Right on!

Plus - he's on steroids. Whoops no, he clarified he takes "testosterone" as part of an anti-aging protocol his doctor prescribed- he doesn't take "steroids"

Does he recommend that every older man take steroids? whoops sorry, not steroids, he doesn't take steroids, I meant testosterone 🤪

How soybeans took over America — and the world This technology could feed a world of 10 billion. We’re squandering it, and the trade war with China could make it worse.

Wrote a lot of words on SOYBEANS!🫛 I love having this job so much lol

America should have greater ambitions for the soybean—treating it not just as slop for the world’s abused livestock, but as a miracle technology with the potential to reshape world diets for the better
www.vox.com/future-perfe...

‘Incredibly concerning’: Bird flu outbreak at Spanish mink farm triggers pandemic fears Spread among captive mink could give the H5N1 strain opportunities to evolve and adapt to mammals

With the attention on influenza in ostriches - and some saying culling still needed for #publichealth reasons (not just poultry industry policy)

A reminder that mink fur farming is still legal in parts of #Canada - and no mandatory testing for H5N1, and no policy to cull minks if positive for H5N1

Awful situation

The culling is following established poultry industry policy

In considering public health risks of current situation, it's important to consider the comparative risks of these ostriches vs dairy cows with H5N1 or the many outbreaks of influenza on pig and mink fur farms...

"I think I'd like to be remembered as someone who really helped people to have a little humility and realize that we are part of the animal kingdom, not separated from it." —Dr. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall's curiosity about the natural world led to groundbreaking observations of chimp behavior. But her compassion toward all living things arguably left her greatest mark on humanity: buff.ly/Bux9ySI

The situation also highlights inherent risks and vulnerabilities in breeding and confining large numbers of animals that can get influenza - and that can mix/reassortment with human influenza - especially animals like pigs and minks

Why First Nations in B.C. are making statements on ostrich farm cull controversy | CBC News First Nations in B.C. are now among national and international voices that have been pulled into a fight to spare over 300 ostriches in the rural community of Edgewood, east of Kelowna, from a Canada ...

"You should not be bringing exotic species into our lands. That's my perspective right there from a leader," said Thomas.

www.cbc.ca/news/indigen...

Parliament pushes for ‘veggie burger’ ban | Euractiv Lawmakers back stricter labelling for meat alternatives

EU Parliament pushes for ‘veggie burger’ ban
Unbelievable we are in a climate crisis where meat production is a huge driver of carbon emissions and deforestation
And instead of promoting meat alternatives - they are trying to ban them

www.euractiv.com/news/parliam...

Nine members of the Canadian Supreme Court sitting for a photo. They are dressed in red robes trimmed in white.

i had no idea this is how canada's supreme court dresses

Illegal may have been the wrong term - (although I imagine there would be legal repercussions if a farmer vaccinated chickens they then slaughtered and sold)

Very confusing issue - with what what sounds like economic/trade/political issues that further complicate scientific/health considerations

Excellent initiative

I worry that there will be a lot of talk about fossil fuels - but little talk about #animal agriculture - also a leading cause of climate change and environmental degradation

- despite the fact that doctors should be advocating for healthy, climate forward diets...

My understanding is that vaccinating poultry is illegal in Canada, for similar reasons that it's illegal to allow these ostriches (who likely have some degree of immunity)

Because, by preventing disease > infection - it could undermine current surveillance that relies on signs of disease (vs labs)