Bluetongue: latest situation
Overview of current bluetongue cases, risk level, vaccinations and restrictions.
Contents:
- Total number of cases
- Latest updates
- Risk level
- Control zones
- Moving animals and animal products
- Vaccination and biosecurity
- Livestock identification and movement rules
- Importing animals and animal products
- Webinars, leaflets, videos and posters
- Defra’s bluetongue control strategy
Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it if you suspect it.
Total number of cases
The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season (since July 2025) is 70. All cases have been in England.
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.
Latest updates
23 September 2025
Ten new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 23 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:
- two dairy cows in Cheshire
- one sheep in East Sussex
- one bovine in West Yorkshire
- one dairy heifer in Cheshire
- one bovine in Cornwall
- one 7-month-old bovine in Cornwall
- one 2-month-old beef calf in Cornwall
- one sheep in Cornwall
- two beef heifers in Cornwall
- one bovine in Cornwall
22 September 2025
One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 22 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:
- one cow in Somerset
One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 22 September 2025 following a non-negative test following germinal product collection:
- one ewe in Shropshire
20 September 2025
One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:
- three cattle in Cornwall
19 September 2025
Nine new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 19 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:
- one dairy cow in East Sussex
- one sheep in Cornwall
- two steers in Cornwall
- one yearling bovine in Derbyshire
- one dairy cow in Derbyshire
- two sheep in Cornwall
- one ram in Devon
One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test:
- two cattle in Shropshire
One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following a non-negative test following germinal product collection:
- one ram in East Sussex
Restricted zone
The restricted zone for bluetongue was extended to cover all of England on 1 July 2025. 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.
Check the guidance on:
- moving animals in England - including farms, markets, shows and slaughterhouses
- moving animals from England to Scotland
- moving animals from England to Wales
- collecting, freezing and moving germinal product in England
Risk level
Temperatures have continued to reduce in recent weeks, and experts consider the risk of onward spread by vectors in the south-east and East Anglia to be high (event occurs very often), and in the south-west and north-east to be medium (event occurs regularly). The risk in eastern counties in Scotland is low (event is rare but does occur).
The risk of incursion of bluetongue virus (including serotypes not currently circulating in England) from all routes remains at medium (occurs regularly).
Control zones
Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue zone map.
Read the details of each zone.
Moving animals and animal products
Find out about:
- moving animals within the restricted zone
- general licences to move animals and germinal product from the restricted zone to Scotland or Wales
- moving, freezing and storing germinal product
Vaccination and biosecurity
Find out about:
Livestock identification and movement rules
Find out about:
- keeping cattle, bison and buffalo in England and Wales
- keeping sheep and goats in England
- keeping deer in England: tagging, movement and record keeping rules
Contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) if you keep camelids (such as llamas or alpacas) or you’re unsure about the rules.
Importing animals and animal products
Check the rules on imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products.
Webinars, leaflets, videos and posters
Watch recordings of bluetongue webinars.
Find leaflets, videos and posters about bluetongue.
Defra’s bluetongue control strategy
Defra controls cases of bluetongue by following the Bluetongue: disease control framework in England
Updates to this page
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Ten new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 23 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs. The cases were in Cheshire, East Sussex, West Yorkshire and Cornwall.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 22 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one cow in Somerset. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 22 September 2025 following a non-negative test following germinal product collection: one ewe in Shropshire.
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20 September 2025 One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: three cattle in Cornwall. 19 September 2025 Nine new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 19 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one dairy cow in East Sussex, one sheep in Cornwall, two steers in Cornwall, one yearling boven in Derbyshire, one dairy cow in Derbyshire, two sheep in Cornwall, one ram in Devon. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test: two cattle in Shropshire. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following a non-negative test following germinal product collection: one ram in East Sussex.
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Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 18 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one sheep in Derbyshire; one sheep and one cow in Cheshire; one ewe in Cornwall.
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Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 17 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one sheep in Oxfordshire, one sheep in Cornwall, one ram in Cornwall, 2 dairy cows West Yorkshire with milk drop and one cow in Leicestershire. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 17 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test: two cattle in Shropshire.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in East Sussex on 5 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs.
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Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 11 September 2025 and two new cases were confirmed on 10 September 2025.
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Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 5 September 2025: one sheep in Cornwall, one ram in Kent and one sheep in Devon.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in a ram in East Sussex on 5 September 2025.
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Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 5 September 2025: one homebred ram in Cornwall and one heifer in Oxfordshire.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 2 September 2025 in Hampshire.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in a dairy cow in Staffordshire on 29 August 2025.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 28 August 2025. One cow in Greater Manchester was confirmed positive following a report of suspicious clinical signs.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 27 August 2025 in Hampshire.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 21 August 2025. The bull in Hampshire was confirmed positive following a report of suspicious clinical signs.
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Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 19 August 2025: one bull in East Sussex and one cow in Hampshire.
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Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 15 August 2025: one sheep in Berkshire; 2 yearling cattle in Hampshire; and one sheep in Oxfordshire.
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One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 14 August 2025. Three farmed deer in East Sussex were confirmed positive following a non-negative pre-movement test.
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Added information about cases of bluetongue that were confirmed on 6, 7 and 11 August 2025.
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First published.