Sussex animal rescue centre recovering from ‘horrific scenario’ amid chicken flu outbreak: Emergency enchantment launched

Worthing-based Wadars animal rescue has launched an emergency enchantment following the outbreak of a lethal avian influenza virus this summer season – which resulted within the closure of its wildlife unit and clean-up prices within the area of £25,000.

Director of operations, Tracy Cadman, mentioned: “Having cared for them for many weeks, our worst fears were confirmed after we contacted Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) in order to discuss our concerns about the health of a small number of birds.

“Defra visited the same day and took samples, and we later received the devastating news that the samples had tested positive for avian influenza, and as a result, the 100 plus birds in our care would need to be culled.

“What is even more heartbreaking is that we were told that our PPE and biosecurity levels were very good, but still this happened.”

A pressure of avian influenza was present in a gaggle of captive birds in West Sussex, with the county council urging poultry keepers – within the Ferring space of Arun – to contact Trading Standards.

Tracy added: “As I’m sure you can imagine, this horrific situation has hit both our staff and voluntary team members extremely hard, especially colleagues who had worked tirelessly day in, day out with the birds and other wildlife in our care.

“People who had direct contact with the birds were given a ten-day course of antiviral medication as the disease can, in rare cases, transfer to

humans, and we have also been providing support for the team to enable people to talk through what happened and how it might have affected them.”

Since the outbreak, Wadars mentioned its employees have been working intently with Defra and specialist contractors in an effort to put in place the ‘rigorous programme of cleansing and disinfection’ that’s ‘necessary to eliminate this disease’.

“Due to the intricacies of the cleaning programme and the extremely infectious nature of the illness, the painstaking work might take as much as three months to finish at a possible cost of round £25,000,” a spokesperson for the charity mentioned.

‘Throughout the crisis’, the wildlife helpline and cellular wildlife rescue service has continued to function and is on monitor to have responded to greater than 1,400 requires assist from members of the general public by the tip of the 12 months.

Wadars has additionally continued to search out eternally properties for a variety of companion animals, which weren’t affected by the outbreak.

Tracy mentioned: “The money that this bird flu outbreak is costing the charity is what would otherwise be spent on the dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals in our care as well as our community-based wildlife rescue work.

“We are appealing to people in the community that we serve to help us recoup some of that money by donating to our emergency appeal. Please help us to recover from this awful ordeal and thank you in advance for any support that you can give.”

To donate to the Wadars Emergency Appeal, both ship a cheque made payable to ‘Wadars’ to Wadars, Hangleton Lane, Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 6PP, or through the Wadars JustGiving web page.