What’s new on this page?
16 November: The restricted zone has been extended to include additional areas of Hampshire and part of Wiltshire.
31 October: What is BTV-12? Find out what we know so far about a new strain of bluetongue virus, detected in the Netherlands.
27 September: The Welsh government has confirmed the first bluetongue case in Wales.
Watch: The NFU hosted a webinar with Defra on 4 October. Watch again | October bluetongue briefing
AHDB webinars are scheduled for 20 November. Booking details can be found at: AHDB | Bluetongue virus webinars.
If you are unable to make these dates you can register to receive recordings of the webinars.
Signs and symptoms
Bluetongue (BTV) affects sheep, cattle and other ruminants. It is a viral disease spread by biting midges, which affects all ruminants (e.g. sheep, cattle, goats and deer) and camelids (such as llama and alpaca).
BTV-3 is a relatively new strain, first reported in September 2023 in the Netherlands. Cases have since been reported in Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland. The first case was confirmed in the UK on 10 November 2023.
Symptoms vary across ruminants, but include fever, lesions, redness of the mouth, eyes, nose, reddening of the skin above the hoof, excessive salivation and nasal discharge. However, animals may show little or no clinical signs.
It does not affect humans or food safety – meat and milk from infected animals are also safe to eat and drink.
For signs and symptoms of bluetongue, visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease
Reporting suspected cases
Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it you must report it immediately. Failure to do so is an offence:
- England – call the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.
- Wales – contact 0300 303 8268.
- Scotland – contact your local Field Services Office.
BTV-12
A new bluetongue virus serotype 12 (BTV-12) has been detected on eight farms in four different provinces in the Netherlands. In total, three sheep and eight cattle farms across different regions are involved in the detection.
No animals were imported from areas where BTV-12 is prevalent.
Variants of BTV-12 occur in Africa, Israel, Asia and North and South America. These known variants do not resemble the Dutch variant sufficiently to be able to indicate a specific origin.
The Dutch authorities are still therefore investigating the source. They have discounted a link to vaccine use, based on genetic sequencing analysis of the virus seroptype.
The Dutch Authorities have shared information about the genetic composition of the new virus with vaccine manufacturers, in the hope that they can use it to develop a vaccine.
The UK Government and the Pirbright Institute are in contact with their Dutch counterparts and are supporting and monitoring the situation.
Vaccines
Defra’s Secretary of State has permitted the use of three unauthorised bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines within the UK, subject to licence.
Unlike the authorised vaccines for other BTV serotypes, the BTV-3 vaccines claim to reduce viraemia rather than prevent it. This means they may not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, but (depending on the vaccine) their claims include reduction or prevention of clinical signs experienced or mortality.
For this reason, all movement controls and trade restrictions still apply to vaccinated animals.
Discuss the merits of vaccination for your animals and business with your private veterinarian.
For more information, refer to the section on 'speak to your vet' at: GOV.UK | Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine: information for keepers.
Animal keepers in England can use these vaccines under general licence and must comply with the listed schedule of conditions.
For example, when you use a BTV-3 vaccination you must:
- Keep a record of every animal you vaccinate – the information you need to record is on the general and specific licences.
- Keep these records for at least five years.
- Provide details, including the individual animal IDs and vaccine you use, to Defra within 48 hours of vaccinating through completion of an online form.
These vaccines are being used in mainland Europe against BTV-3. These are unlicenced medicines but have been approved in the EU for emergency use.
Key links
Information on BTV-3 vaccines including the SPCs (summaries of product characteristics), permits and licences can be accessed at: GOV.UK | BTV-3 vaccine permits.
The general licence for using the inactivated BTV-3 vaccine in England can be found at: GOV.UK | General licence for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine.
The NFU strongly recommends that those interested in using a BTV-3 vaccine consult with their veterinary surgeon first to establish how a vaccine will benefit your animals and farm system.
It is important that you consider the timings of any vaccination programme and what your future animal movements or buying and selling policy will be.
Please be aware that these vaccines make no claims to reduce viraemia so they may not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, but (depending on the vaccine) their claims include reduction or prevention of clinical signs experienced, or mortality associated, with BTV-3 so they could provide a benefit in terms of individual animal health and welfare.
Restricted and temporary control zones
Following the identification of case in Hampshire just outside the RZ, the zone was extended again on 16 November.
The zone now covers part, or all of the counties and unitary authorities, of:
- Bedfordshire
- part of Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- City of Kingston upon Hull
- City of York
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Greater London
- part of Hampshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- part of Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Norfolk
- part of North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Nottinghamshire
- part of Oxfordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- part of Warwickshire
- West Sussex
- part of Wiltshire
The new declaration revokes the previous declarations: GOV.UK | Declaration of an extended bluetongue restricted zone on 16 November 2024.
Details of the zone can be found on the bluetongue interactive map.
Cases not in bluetongue zones
There are fourteen cases that are not in bluetongue zones, linked to animals that have moved to premises before bluetongue restrictions were put in place or through importing animals from countries close to where disease is present.
The premises are in Bath, North East Somerset (BANES), Shropshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Anglesey, Gwynedd, North Yorkshire and Cornwall.
The premises were initially placed under restriction and the infected animals have been culled. Further testing will be undertaken to ensure there has been no local transmission. The premises in Gwynedd is no longer under restriction.
In addition to cases where disease was acquired in England, the UK CVO has confirmed BTV-3 in one animal imported into Devon.
A list of all cases and control zones is available at: GOV.UK | Notifiable animal disease cases and control zones.
You can access the APHA’s interactive map at: APHA | Interactive bluetongue virus map.
Movements and licences
Farmers are urged to only move animals within the RZ where this is absolutely necessary. Any movement carries risk of disease spread.
Movement restrictions apply to:
- all ruminants and camelids moving out of the zone and,
- to the movement of their germinal products within the zone.
Moving to market
Animals may be moved into a market within the zone, but on leaving the market cannot be moved to premises out of the zone.
Moves to markets outside the zones are not currently allowed, except to approved ‘red’ (slaughter) markets.
If you would like to move and sell animals originating from bluetongue restricted zones through slaughter market outside the zone you must:
- Ensure the market is approved. Currently approved slaughter markets can be found at: GOV.UK | Bluetongue approved slaughter markets and designated breeding sales.
- Comply with the condition of general licence EXD627(E) for movements to an approved market
- Follow conditions of the general licence EXD628 (E) for movements from approved slaughter markets to the abattoir for immediate slaughter.
General licences
Animals within the TCZ, RZ or outside of the zones (FA) are allowed to move under general licence to other premises within the restricted zone. This includes to abattoirs within the RZ.
| EXD603 (E) | is the general licence for movements of animals kept within an RZ, PZ (protection zone) or SZ (surveillance zone) to a designated slaughterhouse in England or Wales, for the purpose of immediate slaughter. |
| EXD602 (E) | is the general licence for movements of animals from within a bluetongue TCZ to a designated slaughterhouse in England for the purposes of immediate slaughter. |
| EXD601 (E) | is the general licence for movements of animals from FA or TCZ (same area as slaughterhouse) to a slaughterhouse located in a TCZ in England for the purpose of immediate slaughter. |
| EXD627 (E) | is the general licence for movements from a bluetongue zone to an approved ‘red market’ outside a bluetongue zone, for the purpose of direct sale to a designated slaughterhouse or restricted zone slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter |
| EXD628 (E) | is the general licence for movements from an approved ‘red market’ to a designated slaughterhouse or restricted zone slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter. |
Animals can also move to live either within the same TCZ or from FA to TCZ under these general licences:
| EXD610 (E) | for movements of susceptible animals between premises which are wholly or partly inside a TCZ in England. |
| EXD611 (E) | for movements of susceptible animals from a free area into a TCZ. |
| EXD612 (E) | is the general licence published to overcome legal restrictions that would otherwise prevent movement of animals. This does not remove any obligations to comply with BTV movement restrictions and licences and does not permit the movement of animals out of a RZ. |
General licences do not apply if your premises is under a bluetongue restriction notice. If you have been served a bluetongue premises or individual animal restriction notice and wish to move animals, you must apply for a specific licence.
The general licence for using the inactivated BTV-3 vaccine in England can be found at: GOV.UK | General licence for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine.
For more information on general licences, visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue movement licences and designated slaughterhouses – when you need to apply for a licence
Specific movement licences
Specific licences exempt you from disease control movement restrictions in England, Scotland and Wales. This covers any movement or activity within any current disease control zones that are not covered by a general licence.
When you might need a specific licence:
- If you need to move animals to live on premises outside of the RZ
- If you need to move germinal products from susceptible animals out of the zone, or you wish to freeze germinal products in the zone.
Applying for a specific licence:
If you need to move livestock from your holding, you should apply for a specific licence online using the licensing portal on GOV.UK. Visit: GOV.UK | Apply for an exemption from animal disease movement restrictions.
Specific licences for farmers within an RZ and with tracings are available via the licensing portal.
Find out more about bluetongue movement licences at: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: apply for a specific movement licence.
For help completing an application, or if you are unable to access the service and need to request an EXD100 form, contact APHA:
Phone: 03000 200 301
Email: [email protected]
Each movement licence is subject to its own risk assessment, meaning it can take up to five days for a licence to be granted.
Temporary land association and temporary county parish holding
When applying for a specific licence, it is important that the correct TLA and tCPH is in place.
For more information, visit: BTV – preparing for bluetongue on farm | Temporary land associations
GOV.UK references
- Cases and control zones in England: GOV.UK | Bluetongue information and guidance – cases and control zones
- Latest situation in Wales:
- Signs and reporting: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease
- Movement licences:
- A list of abbatoirs: GOV.UK | Designated slaughterhouses
- The latest situation in the EU: GOV.UK | Bluetongue virus in Europe
- Information on trade: GOV.UK | Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues
- Shows and events in England 2024: GOV.UK | Bluetongue guidance for shows and events in England in 2024
RH&W (Ruminant Health and Welfare) provides dedicated information on bluetongue. Visit: RH&W | Bluetongue Virus
AHDB is running a series of technical webinars which offer vet practitioners and other stakeholders valuable technical information about BTV-3.
Details of upcoming webinars can be found at AHDB | Bluetongue virus technical webinars.
Watch the previous webinars, which have covered topics such as the symptoms of BTV, the midge lifecycle and the impact of temperature on BTV transmission at: YouTube | AHDB.
In May 2024, APHA hosted a Plan, Prevent and Protect webinar aimed at organisers of agricultural shows and other events in England where cattle, sheep, pigs, camelids, poultry, other captive birds and other livestock will be present.
The webinar covered what organisers should consider and prepare for and what actions must be taken to protect the health of animals.
Although bluetongue is not the main topic of the webinar, there is a lengthy talk from Chloe Etherton, Defra Livestock Disease policy adviser, on the subject beginning at 24:45.
For more videos from APHA, visit: YouTube | APHA
On 4 October we hosted a webinar on the latest bluetongue situation, featuring NFU experts and Defra staff, chaired by NFU President Tom Bradshaw.
NFU CallFirst is also available for help and advice on farming, legal or technical issues on 0370 845 8458.