A vaccination hub in Ceredigion, Wales, faced an unexpected closure as a pair of slippery visitors slithered onto the scene.

Dubbed Cwm and Cou in a nod to the Welsh village hosting the center, these serpentine intruders disrupted the daily operations with their impromptu appearance. Cou, the larger of the duo, garnered attention as an adder, while Cwm, a grass snake, injected a bit of panic when they were spotted. The centre, which provides healthcare services to Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, had to close while a search was carried out. The Hywel Dda Health Board found itself seeking counsel from wildlife experts to safely relocate its reptilian guests. 

The centre has since reopened and shared an update on its Facebook page: “We are delighted to share that our vaccination centre at Ysgol Trewen in Cwm-Cou has now re-opened.

“Following a wide-scale search of the premises, the centre has been declared a snake-free zone.”

They added: “Thank you for your support and patience while we have been dealing with this slippery situation – but it adder be done.”

While grass snakes are commonplace and harmless across England and Wales, the adder holds the title of the UK’s sole venomous snake. However, its venom poses minimal threat to most humans, typically causing discomfort and inflammation rather than serious harm, except in the most vulnerable individuals.

Cover picture: One of two snakes found at a vaccination centre in Wales. Credit: Facebook/HywelDdaHealthBoard

Main picture: Hywel Dda University Health Board’s vaccination centre for south Ceredigion at Ysgol Trewen, Cwm-cou. Credit: NHS Wales