GovWire

Bluetongue affects:

• sheep
• cattle
• other ruminants such as deer and goats
• camelids such as llamas

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

The last outbreak in England, Scotland or Wales was in 2007.

Latest situation

Update 6 December 2023

Following active surveillance in the temporary control zone (TCZ), an eighth case of bluetongue serotype 3 in a cow has been confirmed.This animal is on a new premises located within the TCZ. There is currently no evidence that there is circulating virus. Surveillance is ongoing.

Update 5 December 2023

Following active surveillance, a seventh case of bluetongue serotype 3 has been confirmed.This animal was on the same premises as the sixth case announced on the 4 December and was, until recently, grazing on land outside the original temporary control zone (TCZ).

The animal will be humanely culled to reduce the risk of onward transmission. There is currently no evidence that there is circulating virus. Surveillance is ongoing.

Update 4 December 2023

Following active surveillance of premises linked to cases within the 10km temporary control zone (TCZ), a further case of bluetongue serotype 3 in cattle has been identified. This animal was, until recently, grazing on a premises outside the TCZ. This brings the total number of cases to 6. As a result, the TCZ has been extended.

The animal will be humanely culled to reduce the risk of onward transmission.There is no evidence that there is circulating virus in the midge population. Surveillance is ongoing.

Bluetongue risk

A number of different types (serotypes) of bluetongue are currently circulating in Europe including:

• BTV-3
• BTV-4
• BTV-8

Bluetongue could spread to the UK if infected midges are carried across the channel by the wind. The south and east coasts of England are at highest risk. The exact level of risk depends on the:

• level of disease in nearby areas of Europe
• weather conditions, particularly wind speed and direction
• temperature

Bluetongue could also spread into the UK if infected animals, blood or germinal products, are imported from countries where bluetongue is circulating.

Bluetongue has been reported in a number of European countries. See thecurrentoutbreak assessmentsand thetopical issues pagefor more detail.

You should discuss the risks ofimporting stock fromBTVaffected countrieswith your vet.

Vaccination is available for some types of bluetongue. You should discussvaccinating your herd or flockwith your vet.

Movement licences

Animal movements out of the temporary control zone (TCZ) are not allowed until we have a better assessment of the disease situation. Movements into or within the zone are only allowed under licence.

However, you can apply for a specific movement licence if theres an urgent and genuine welfare need to move animals, or you need to move animals from:

• a premises within the TCZ to another premises within the TCZ
• the free area into the TCZ permanently (for example, breeding stock)
• the free area or within the TCZ to go direct to slaughter within the TCZ
• the TCZ to go direct to slaughter at a designated abattoir in the free area within 100 miles of the premises of origin

How to spot bluetongue

If you keep livestock, you must continue to keep a close watch for, and report, any suspicion of bluetongue disease in your animals.

In sheep

Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of Bluetongue than cattle if they become infected. 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
• death

In cattle

Signs of the disease 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

Adult cattle may serve as a source of virus for several weeks while displaying little or no clinical signs of disease and are often the preferred host for insect vectors.

In calves

Calves can become infected with bluetongue (BTV-8) 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
• abortions

Livestock keepers and vets should consider bluetongue as a possible cause for calves showing these signs.

Photos of clinical signs

Weve published some photos of clinical signs of bluetongue disease on Flickr.

How bluetongue is spread

Bluetongue virus is mostly spread by certain species of biting midges (Culicoides species), many of whichcan be found throughout Great Britain.

Midges are infected with the virus when they bite an infected animal and the virus spreads when the infected midge then bites an uninfected susceptible animal. Once a midge has picked up thebluetonguevirus it will be a carrier for the rest of its life.

The time of year (midges are mainly active between April to November), meteorological conditions (temperature, wind speed and direction and rain), topography and the proximity and density of neighbouring farms with susceptible animals are significant factors in a potential incursion and on how quickly, and how far midges can spread the disease.

Bluetongue virus can also be spread through biological products such as blood, germinal products (semen or embryos), or the movement of infected animals.

Infected pregnant animals can, under certain circumstances, transmit the virus to their unborn offspring. Once born, the infected offspring could act as a source of bluetongue virus.

The severity of the infection depends upon the serotype of the virus and may also be affected by strain. New serotypes continue to be identified but only serotypes 1-24 are notifiable.

Practice good hygiene when vaccinating animals

Bluetongue can also be transmitted through dirty needles.

Animal keepers and vets should follow good practice when treating and vaccinating animals at risk of being infected with bluetongue.

Preventing and controlling bluetongue

You can help to prevent the disease by:

• vaccinating your animals with a suitable authorised vaccine
• responsibly source livestock
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