Hundreds of homes in Swindon have recently received a letter from the Department of Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) warning of the dangers of bird flu in the area. 

The letters are seemingly written by chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss are dated February 2022 and bore urgent instructions for people who keep poultry and birds to take action.

But these letters have caused confusion as Defra's own site confirms there is currently no outbreak of the potentially dangerous avian influenza in or around Swindon. 

There was an outbreak in Highworth on December 10 when a protection order was placed on the town within the Swindon Borough after pathogenic avian flu was found in birds at a property nearby. 

That situation was resolved, however, with the Government declaring the end of the Protection Zone and revocation of the Surveillance Zone on January 29. 

Swindon Advertiser:

Anj Marie, from RSPCA Oak and Furrows, said the wildlife rescue charity received several letters from the Government department, many of which were addressed to random places like the car park, a field at the bottom of the road and an office building, but even she wasn't sure why they had been sent now. 

She posted onto the Swindon Community Notice Board that they weren't aware of any ongoing bird flu situation and had confirmed with Defra over the phone that they weren't aware of one either. 

"We received about 7 of these letters at RSPCA Oak and Furrows (including one addressed to the car park) and I understand many people have had one posted to their homes as well in the area," she wrote. 

"Just to keep you all informed, there is nothing on the Defra site to suggest there is a recent outbreak in our area, and after I called Defra they had no record of any restrictions since the one in Highworth in December, which has since been lifted about 3 weeks ago.

"I have also emailed the chief veterinary officer who has yet to get back to me, as I'm sure you are all concerned too as to exactly where this is relating to and whether it is just a very tardy letter informing us of the one from December or a more recent infection which would be more of a worry!"

Swindon Advertiser:

Hundreds of people responded saying that too had received a letter, many of which said they didn't keep birds, and many others decrying it as a waste of taxpayers' money. 

For RSPCA Oak and Furrows, Anj Marie confirmed that it's business as usual, with garden birds being accepted until they hear anything to the contrary, and water birds are still restricted. 

"If you find any injured birds please call us first just in case we have had to suddenly change our admission protocols," she said. 

Defra has been contacted for clarification.