Worldwide Veterinary Service responds to devastating tropical cyclone in Malawi

In the wake of Cyclone Freddy, Worldwide Veterinary Service’s (WVS) team based in Blantyre, Malawi, is providing emergency response for injured wildlife, livestock, and pets. Leaving a path of destruction across southern Malawi, Cyclone Freddy is likely to be the longest lasting tropical cyclone in history, according to World Meteorological Organisation. An urgent fundraising appeal has been launched by the charity to support with the increasing demand for veterinary care.

Vets at the charity’s centre in Blantyre are currently treating animals injured in the cyclone, including a sick white backed vulture that was found soaking wet on the ground. If these endangered birds do not eat for a few days and get cold, they can rapidly lose condition and become too weak to find food. WVS vets administered fluids and provided warmth and food to stabilise the vulture's condition. Once fully recovered, the bird will be released back into the wild.

More and more cases are coming in, but as time passes it is not just the initial injuries that will need to be treated. The floodwaters will spread disease, trap livestock, and limit food supplies. De worming campaigns will be essential to stop the spread of disease in livestock.

Dr Dagmar Mayer, Africa Projects Director at WVS, is based in Blantyre and shares her experience of the cyclone and the ongoing threat for animals: 

“It has been devastating to witness the impact of the cyclone across Blantyre. It has caused a vast amount of damage, flooding, over 183,000 people have been displaced and hundreds of human lives have been lost. More bodies are being recovered from underneath mud and rubble every day. We have already begun treating animals who have been injured because of Cyclone Freddy, responding to calls for help as much as we can, and we are preparing ourselves for an influx of cases as the days go on. From our veterinary clinic in Blantyre, we will respond and provide treatment and aid to any sick or injured animals who need our help. The impact of this will be felt for many months to come.”

In an area where access to veterinary care is limited, the WVS team provide expert veterinary services to the animals of Blantyre and the surrounding areas. All year round, the veterinary team treat and care for sick, injured or neglected animals, deliver sterilisation and vaccination campaigns, and rescue and rehome animals. In 2022, the WVS team in Malawi treated 7,575 animals.

“Our team in Malawi already go above and beyond for animals in need” said Dr Luke Gamble, Founder and CEO of WVS.

“The increasing number of animals arriving in the aftermath of the cyclone will stretch our resources to the limit, but we will ensure all animals receive expert veterinary care. Our teams will also be engaging proactively with livestock owners to ensure that outbreaks of disease are prevented. Malawi suffered massively during the pandemic and was tackling the worst Cholera outbreak in decades before the cyclone hit. Flooding and landslides have left many people displaced, and their animals isolated, in desperate need, and at real risk of disease. We are doing all we can to stop another crisis hitting communities that have suffered so much already.”

The charity has launched an urgent fundraising appeal as resources are stretched to the limit. Further information is available at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/cyclone-freddy.

Readers can discover more about the work of WVS at wvs.org.uk.