A PLEA from Wychbold Swan Rescue has gone out for residents to do their bit to help keep bird flu out of the area.
John Stewart has made the appeal after a young swan was found at Redditch’s Ipsley Pool with suspected avian flu.
Another cygnet with him was bird flu free.
Because avian flu is so contagious, John had to wear PPE and euthanase the infected swan away from the rescue centre to ensure he did not spread it or bring it back into the centre.
He is also urging people walking dogs around Ipsley Pool and other water stretches, such as in Arrow Valley Park, Sanders Park or Vines Park to leave distance between them and water birds.
Those wanting to feed them should do so near the water’s edge to keep the birds there and prevent them from going to other areas.
Avian flu can be spread by people walking in the birds’ poo and transporting it on their footwear to other areas.
Taking care not to do this will make a big difference locally.
John added: “I don’t want to sound alarmist because it was not a confirmed case but when it comes to bird flu, prevention is definitely better than cure.
“And we certainly don’t want to go back to where we were before.”
He added, currently, there had been confirmed bird flu cases in Worcester, Malvern and Stratford but none yet in Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch
This time last year, the charity was forced to launch an urgent fund-raising appeal after the rescue centre was hit hard by bird flu.
More than 60 swans, geese and ducks had to be euthanased after the disease found its way into the centre.
