Bluetongue: What you need to know

What is it?

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease, caused by infection of the Bluetongue virus. Biting midges mainly spread it. It affects livestock, such as cattle, sheep, goats and alpacas. Outbreaks can result in animal movement and trade restrictions; however it does not affect humans or food safety.

What to look for?

Adult cattle are often the preferred host for biting midges and may be infectious for several weeks before showing any clinical signs of infection.

The main signs of Bluetongue infection in cattle are:

• 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

• Drop in milk production

• Not eating

• Abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths

What are the Current Restrictions for Bluetongue in the UK and Ireland?

Keep up to date with the latest UK restrictions on the Government website

• From 1^st July 2025, the restrictions of Bluetongue have changed. The restriction zone for Bluetongue now covers all of England. This means you can move animals within England without a specific Bluetongue license or pre-movement testing.

• In order to freeze germinal products (sperm, ova and embryos) anywhere in England, you will need a specific license and testing is also required. Keepers are responsible for covering the cost of sampling, postage and testing for this.

• Susceptible animals will be allowed to move to Scotland and Wales from England provided that you have a movement license issued by the APHA. This license confirms that the animals have a valid pre-movement test (at your expense), or Vaccination with the Boehringer Bultavo-3 vaccine (for cattle only), as well as having no clinical symptoms.

• In Northern Ireland, movement restrictions remain in place. Animals and germinal products cannot move from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

• The Republic of Ireland is no longer free of Bluetongue, following a confirmed case in Wexford. The current situation of bluetongue in Ireland is outlined below and on the Department of Agriculture Ireland website.

• An outbreak of bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 3, was confirmed in a cattle herd in Co. Wexford on 23rd of January 2026. It was detected through the culled cow routine surveillance in a slaughterhouse. This is the first occurrence of BTV infection in a homebred animal in Ireland.
• Further investigations have detected additional infected cattle linked to the first herd in which infection was detected and in five additional herds located nearby. A further infection was detected in another bovine which had been in a number of herds during the suspected infection period. Two cattle abortion reports (which are a legal requirement to report under SI 114 of 1991) have disclosed two further cases in farms in coastal areas of Wicklow and Louth.
• Surveillance in the area is ongoing.
• There are no public health risks associated with bluetongue. Bluetongue does not affect human health or food safety; meat and milk are safe to eat.
• Moves of livestock from farm to farm and from farm to slaughter, including those through marts, can continue as the cold temperatures prevent the virus from replicating.
• Regarding the trade of meat and dairy products, there are no implications for exports to the EU, UK and to most of our international markets.
• Movements of livestock to certain EU Member States and Third countries will be affected now that Ireland has lost the BTV free status, the Department is negotiating revisions to many trade certs for third countries. Please contact your Regional Veterinary Office for more information or visit the following websites:

Preventing Bluetongue on your farm

You can prevent the virus from spreading by:

• Vaccinating your animals against Bluetongue

• Ensuring your livestock are responsibly sourced

• Remaining vigilant to the clinical signs of Bluetongue

• Housing your animals in buildings that keep the biting midges out, which is particularly important at dawn and dusk

• Maintaining good hygiene and biosecurity

• Not allowing any farm dogs, cats or pets to eat/chew/play with any potentially infected materials (e.g. aborted material or afterbirth)

References

Rare Breeds Survival Trust. (2025). The Bluetongue situation from 1st July 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.rbst.org.uk/news/the-bluetongue-situation-from-1st-july-2025 [Accessed 1 Jul. 2025].

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (2014). Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue

gov.ie. (2021). Bluetongue Virus. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/bluetongue-virus/ [Accessed 1 Jul. 2025].