Bird flu outbreak prevents RSPCA game centers from accepting sick seabirds due to risk to other animals
- Animal charity has stopped accepting sick seabirds due to bird flu
- There are at least 102 cases of bird flu in England during the outbreak
- Despite the changes, branches will still take in other animals
RSPCA game centers no longer accept sick seabirds due to the bird flu outbreak.
Defra figures have confirmed 102 cases of bird flu in England, with two cases each in Wales and Scotland earlier this year revoking their disease control zones since then.
When bird flu is confirmed or suspected in poultry or other birds in captivity, disease control zones are established around the infected premises to prevent the spread of the disease.
Within these zones, a series of restrictions on the movement of poultry and material associated with their retention may apply.
RSPCA England and Wales have now announced that their rescue centers will no longer take in seabirds
There are currently two disease control zones around Bexhill and Hastings in East Sussex due to the outbreaks of the disease seen by a number of birds that have become extinct humans.
There are currently five other disease control zones in force: two in Shropshire, two in Nottinghamshire and one in Derbyshire.
RSPCA England and Wales have now announced that their rescue centers will no longer take in seabirds – but officials will continue to attend reports of sick and injured birds.
The animal charity says bird flu has become a serious problem this summer and there are high levels of morbidity and mortality, especially in seabirds around the coast.
The RDBV says it will try to respond to calls about sick and injured animals where possible and treat them compassionately and appropriately.
A spokesperson said: ‘Tragically, bird flu continues to spread at an alarming rate, with seabird populations being worst affected.
‘In an effort to prevent this highly contagious disease from killing hundreds of our wild patients, we have made the difficult decision to close our centers and branches for new seabird admissions.
‘This includes (but is not limited to) the most common seabird species: gulls, auks, terns, eels, shearwaters, malgas and stormbirds.
“Our animal rescue teams will continue to pay attention to reports of sick and injured birds.”
Animal charity says bird flu has become a serious problem this summer and there are high levels of morbidity and mortality
RDBV veterinarian Jocelyn Toner added: ‘Bird flu has a devastating impact on wild bird life across the country and our teams have been responding to calls about sick birds and doing their best to seek help for as many as possible.
‘It was devastating for our volunteers, veterinarians and staff – who work for the RSPCA because they love animals – to see so many birds perish because of this horrible disease.
“It is now important that we follow the government’s advice and take action to try to slow down the spread and keep as many of our birds as safe as possible.”
Branches will still be able to take in other game.
A spokesman for the RSPCA branch in Thanet, Kent, said: ‘Such heartbreaking decisions must now be made in terms of game management.
‘Let’s hope things will improve soon without too many more beautiful birds losing their lives.
“We take in other game at the animal center if necessary. Unfortunately we just can’t take in birds.”
A spokesman for the charity’s Brighton branch said they shared the news ‘with great sadness’.