Worcestershire swan rescue centre forced to euthanize DOZENS of birds following outbreak of bird flu
It's costing the charity thousands of pounds to decontaminate the site
Last updated 29th Nov 2021
A swan rescue centre in Worcestershire has been forced to euthanize dozens of birds following an outbreak of bird flu.
The outbreak hit Wychbold Swan Rescue at the end of October and now 60 birds have been killed.
The charity, which has already suffered during the pandemic, is now having to pay thousands of pounds to decontaminate the site before they can begin operating again.
"The problem now is the cost of incineration, disinfection, overalls have to be worn in and out", says John Stewart who's a volunteer.
"And on top of that we can't go out and do rescues which is what we're all about - it's a nightmare situation".
The buildings are normally used to nurse poorly birds and swans back to health now lies empty.
The outbreak has meant they've had to pause operations and are having to turn down calls from emergency services when an injured bird needs to be rescued.
"The situation is painful", John continued.
"Normally we'd be driving down the driveway up to the centre and there would be birds and ducks flying around. It's just terrible."
How to spot the signs of bird flu
Bird flu affects most birds and can cause them significant distress - here are some of the signs to look out for:
- Birds flicking their heads and moving round in circles
- If they're on the water they swim around in circles
- Bird poo is a flourescent green colour
- In more severe cases, some birds' heads may swell and have a blue colouration
John added: "It's a contact disease so when people are walking down a towpath for example, I'd urge them to avoid stepping in any bird poo.
"If they do, they can then take it back home and pass potentially pass the disease onto any chickens, budgies, parrots or any other bird they may have."
What's being done to stop bird flu spreading?
From today (Monday November 29), new laws are coming into effect which means all birdkeepers must keep the anminals indoors.
It comes after a number of confirmed cases across great britain in recent weeks.
Bird keepers are also being asked to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.
The rules will apply to everyone, from farms with large broiler units to people who keep a few chickens in the back garden.
In addition to housing all poultry and captive birds, keepers must continue taking extra precautions to keep their flocks safe.
This includes regularly cleaning and disinfecting equipment, clothing and vehicles when entering or exiting sites and limiting access to non-essential workers or visitors.
Public health advice remains that the risk to human health from the virus is very low and food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.
Residents are reminded not to touch or pick up any dead or sick birds that are found and instead report them to the relevant helpline below. It is safe to eat cooked poultry and eggs.
How can you help Wychbold Swan Rescue Centre?
It's costing the centre thousands of pounds to follow the rigourous and mandatory decontamination procedures.
A fundraising page has now been set up where people can donate money to cover that and support the charity in general.
Visit the Just Giving page set up where you can donate and read more about the work the centre does.