The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season is 4. All cases have been in England.
The risk of transmission via infected midges is now considered to be very high in England and most of Great Britain.
The location of all premises in Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR to bluetongue serotype 3 or serotype 12 is available on the bluetongue case map.
19 July 2025
One new case of BTV-3 has been confirmed in England on 19 July 2025. One bovine out of two tested was confirmed positive in Norfolk following a non-negative private test.
12 July 2025
One new case of BTV-3 has been confirmed in England on 12 July 2025. One sheep in Buckinghamshire was confirmed positive following a report of suspicious clinical signs – these included pyrexia, salivation, nasal discharge, swollen muzzle, lips and tongue with congestion in oral mucosa. The sheep was lethargic and unresponsive to treatment.
11 July 2025
Two new cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed on 11 July 2025:
- two cattle were confirmed positive in Herefordshire following a non-negative pre-movement test
- one sheep in Oxfordshire was confirmed positive following a report of suspicious clinical signs – the sheep had hot and painful feet, reluctance to move and was generally unwell
1 July 2025
The restricted zone for bluetongue has been extended to cover all of England. You can now move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre-movement testing.
You will need a specific licence to freeze germinal products (semen, ova and embryo) anywhere in England and testing will be required. Keepers will be responsible for the cost of sampling, postage and testing. Further detail can be found in the declaration.
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges.
Bluetongue virus affects:
- sheep
- cattle
- other ruminants such as deer and goats
- camelids such as llamas and alpacas
Rarely, bluetongue can affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material (such as aborted material and afterbirth).
It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.
Signs of bluetongue
If you keep livestock, you must keep a close watch for and report any suspicion of bluetongue in your animals.
The severity of the infection depends on the type (serotype) of the virus and may also be affected by the strain.
In sheep
Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:
- ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
- discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth
- swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot)
Other clinical signs include:
- red skin as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface
- fever
- lameness
- breathing problems
- abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
- death
In lambs
Lambs can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the dam is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:
- lambs born small, weak, deformed or blind
- death of lambs within a few days of birth
- stillbirths
In cattle
Signs of bluetongue in cattle include:
- lethargy
- crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle
- redness of the mouth, eyes, nose
- reddening of the skin above the hoof
- nasal discharge
- reddening and erosions on the teats
- fever
- milk drop
- not eating
- abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
Adult cattle may be infectious for several weeks while showing little or no sign of disease. They are often the preferred host for biting midges (the vector of bluetongue virus).
In calves
Calves can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the mother is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:
- calves born small, weak, deformed or blind
- death of calves within a few days of birth
- stillbirths
More Details – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue
