Risk that B.C. ostriches could spread flu is low, but cull is still warranted, experts say

The risk that hundreds of ostriches in southeastern B.C. could still spread the bird flu that infected the flock last December is very low, but remains high enough to continue with a federal cull, veterinary science experts tell The Globe and Mail.

Angela Rasmussen, a virologist with the University of Saskatchewan, said that while it is possible to test the birds for avian flu using a PCR test – the same used to test for COVID-19 in humans – scientists would likely need to take multiple samples to ensure the accuracy of the testing.