Bluetongue: how to spot and report the diseaseit
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Applies to England
Bluetongue 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.
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Latest situation
Update 1112 January 2024
Following active surveillance in the the Norfolk temporary control zone (TCZ),), one further case of bluetongue in cattle has been identified on a premises near Limpenhoe in the existing TCZ.
The positive animal will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep, deer, camelids and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of bluetongue cases in England to 50 infected animals on 27 premises. There is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue disease control zone map.
Update 1011 January 2024
Following active surveillance in the Norfolk temporary control zone (TCZ),), one further case of bluetongue in cattle has been identified on a premises near Limpenhoe in the existing existing TCZ.
Update 10 January 2024
Following active surveillance in the north-eastthe KentNorfolk temporary control zone (TCZ), one further case of bluetongue in acattle sheep has been identified aton a newpremises locationnear Limpenhoe in the existing existing TCZ, in the Canterbury area..
Update 9 January 2024
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent temporary control zone (TCZ), 2one further casescase of bluetongue in cattlea havesheep has been identified at 2a new locationslocation in the existing TCZ, in the SandwichCanterbury area. Both locations are linked to holdings where cases have recently been found.
All bluetongue disease control zones
Find details of all bluetongue disease control zones in England.
Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue disease control zone map.
Bluetongue risk
A number of different types (serotypes) of bluetongue are currently circulating in Europe including:including:
-
BTV
-3-1 -
BTV
-4-3 - BTV-4
- BTV-8
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Bluetongue has been reported in a number of European countries. SeeGo to the current outbreak assessments and the topical issues page for more detail.
You should discuss the risks of importing stock from BTV affected countries with your vet.
Movement licences
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agatheringpremisesupwithinTCZanimals- providing handling facilities for safe sampling
If your animal tests positive, APHA towill anothernotify premisesyou within the48 TCZ
The intocurrent policy is that positive animals will be humanely culled to reduce the TCZrisk permanentlyof (fordisease example,transmission. breedingYou stock)
If a case of bluetongue is confirmed on your premises, APHA will also:
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APHA towill spotnot notify you of negative results. If you have not received notification within a week, you can assume results are negative.
Signs of 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 Bluetonguebluetongue 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
abortionabortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths- death
In lambs
Lambs can become infected with bluetongue 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
Livestock keepers and vets should consider bluetongue as a possible cause and report suspicion to APHA immediately.
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
abortionabortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
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
abortionsstillbirths
Livestock keepers and vets should consider bluetongue as a possible cause forand calvesreport showingsuspicion theseto signs.the APHA immediately.
Photos of clinical signs
We’veThere publishedare some photos ofshowing the clinical signs of bluetongue disease on Flickr.
Report suspected bluetongue
If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling:
- 03000 200 301 in England
- 03003 038 268 in Wales
- your local Field Services Office in Scotland
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. This means if you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.
How bluetongue is spread
Bluetongue virus is mostly spread by certain species of biting midges (Culicoides species), many of which can be found throughout Great Britain. Midges can also bring the virus over from mainland Europe depending on weather conditions.
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 the bluetongue virus 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 onimpact 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. It can also spread to Great Britain when infected products germplasm (sperm, eggs and ova) and animals are imported.
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 1-241 to 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
- practising good biosecurity on your premises
- remaining vigilant
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You protectcan vaccinate animals fromagainst theserotypes bluetongue1, virus2, serotypes4 1,2,4 and 8. You should discuss with your vet whether vaccination would benefit your business.business.
Bluetongue Therecan isbe notransmitted vaccinethrough availabledirty forneedles. serotypeAnimal 3.keepers and vets should follow good practice when treating and vaccinating animals at risk of being infected with bluetongue.
You need to complyto comply with the requirements ofof the thebluetongue general licence if if you wish to vaccinate animals located outside of a restricted zone for bluetongue.bluetongue.
It can take up to 6 weeks for your animals to be fully immune,immune. asYour your animals will require a period of time for immunity to develop following vaccination and may requireneed 2 doses of the vaccine, 3 weeks apart.apart.
Vets can apply to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for a Special Import Certificate (SIC).(SIC).
The certificate allows keepers to import safe and effective bluetongue vaccine directly to vaccinate their stock.
Controlling outbreaks of bluetongue
Find out more about how the government will control an outbreak in:
- the contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases
- the bluetongue control strategy
- Bluetongue Regulations 2008
- Bluetongue (Amendment) Regulations 2012 which allows vaccination under licence
- The Exotic Disease (Amendment) (England) Order 2023
- The Bluetongue (Compensation) Order 2007
Importing animals from bluetongue affected countries
You should get advice from your vet about the risks and the health status of animals you want to import, before you import them.
If you import animals you should:
- make sure animals comply with all of the requirements of the model health certificate to confirm they’ve come from a bluetongue free country or, where a vaccine exists, the animal has been correctly vaccinated against the right strains of bluetongue - this will depend on which country you’re importing from
- fill in bluetongue declaration GBHC172 if transiting through a bluetongue restricted territory
- check if current issues relating to imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products affect your import
- consider what additional guarantees the seller can provide - such as a pre-export test to prove the animal is not infected and has immunity to BTV
- consider pre-vaccinating your flock or herd against the relevant strains of bluetongue before introducing new animals
Movement restrictions will apply to cattle or sheep imported from countries where bluetongue is known to be circulating. These restrictions will apply until the animals have been tested and confirmed free of the disease.
Animals that test positive for bluetongue may be culled or returned to the country of origin. Any animals which travelled in the same vehicle and are at risk of becoming infected may also be culled.culled or returned. No compensation will be paid for the culled or returned animals. This only applies to imported animals.
For UK born and bred animals that are culled to control the spread of disease, compensation will be paid at market value.
All other animals on the premises that are at risk of becoming infected will be placed under movement restrictions. These restrictions will apply until it’s confirmed that the disease has not spread. These restrictions may last several weeks.
Controlling outbreaks of bluetongue
Find
Last
-
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- updated.
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Following active surveillance in the Norfolk temporary control zone (TCZ), one further case of bluetongue in cattle has been identified on a premises near Limpenhoe in the existing TCZ.
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Following active surveillance in the Norfolk temporary control zone (TCZ), one further case of bluetongue in cattle has been identified on a premises near Limpenhoe in the existing TCZ. Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent temporary control zone (TCZ), one further case of bluetongue in a sheep has been identified at a new location in the existing TCZ, in the Canterbury area.
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Updated the latest situation. 2 further bluetongue cases have been identified in the existing north-east Kent temporary control zone (in the Sandwich area).
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Updated the latest situation. There has been 1 further case in the existing TCZ in the Deal area.
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Following active surveillance in the Norfolk temporary control zone (TCZ), 4 further cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified in the existing TCZ
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 3 further cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified in the existing TCZ in the Deal area. Following active surveillance in the Norfolk Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 1 further case of bluetongue in cattle has been identified in the existing TCZ.
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 1 further case of bluetongue in a bull has been identified in the existing TCZ in the Deal area.
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Updated the latest situation. There is a further case of bluetongue in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ).
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 4 further cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified in the Sandwich Bay area in the TCZ. 3 of the cases are located on a new holding. Also updated guidance on movement licences to move animals from the TCZ to go direct to slaughter.
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 3 further cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a new holding in the Sandwich Bay area in the TCZ.
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Following active surveillance in the Norfolk Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further case of bluetongue in cattle has been identified. The keeper has been notified and the animal will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ will not be extended, and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
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Following active surveillance in the Norfolk Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 2 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified. The cattle were on 2 separate premises within the ownership of a single family business. Following active surveillance in the Kent TCZ, a further infected animal has been detected on a premises near Sandwich in Kent. Guidance under 'movement licences' and ‘Controlling outbreaks of bluetongue’ has also been updated.
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further case of bluetongue in a sheep has been identified on a new holding in the Sandwich Bay area in the TCZ. The animal will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone. This brings the total number of cases to 23. There is currently still no evidence that bluetongue virus is circulating in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 3 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified in the Sandwich Bay area from the same herd as the 5 positives confirmed yesterday on 15 December. The holding is situated in the existing TCZ. All 3 animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the Zone. This brings the total number of cases to 22 on 8 different holdings. There is currently still no evidence that bluetongue virus is circulating in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 5 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a holding in the Sandwich Bay area. The holding is situated in the existing TCZ. All five animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the Zone.
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Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 3 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a holding in the Sandwich Bay area. The holding is situated in the existing TCZ. Guidance under 'Importing animals from bluetongue affected countries' has also been updated.
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Following routine surveillance, a further 2 cases in cattle have been identified on a farm near Cantley, Broadland, Norfolk. A 10km temporary control zone (TCZ) has been declared around the premises.
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Following active surveillance in the temporary control zone (TCZ), a ninth case of bluetongue serotype 3 has been confirmed in a single sheep, on a mixed cattle and sheep farm in the existing TCZ. There is currently no evidence that there is circulating virus. Surveillance is ongoing.
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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.
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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 of the original temporary control zone (TCZ).
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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.
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Following active surveillance within the 10km temporary control zone (TCZ) a further 4 cases in cattle of bluetongue serotype 3 have been identified on 2 additional premises, all within the 10km TCZ and within 5km of the first finding near Canterbury, Kent. All 4 animals will be humanely culled to reduce the risk of onward transmission. There is no evidence that there is circulating virus in the midge population. The 10km TCZ remains in place in place and surveillance is ongoing. Guidance under 'Movement licences' has also been updated.
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Updated the movement licences section. Added a link to a form to apply for a specific licence.
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Added a section on movement licences.
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Updated the latest situation section to reflect that a single cow has tested positive for bluetongue serotype 3 on a premises near Canterbury, Kent. Also updated the guidance throughout the page.
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Updated the current situation section. Removed Belgium and added the Netherlands to reflect the changing disease situation in Europe.
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Added a link to the Bluetongue declaration. You must fill in the declaration when transiting through a bluetongue restricted territory.
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Updated the current situation section and removed out of date content.
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Added the details of how to spot bluetongue in calves.
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Page updated following a review of content.
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Updated the current situation and added the section on importing animals from bluetongue affected countries.
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Contact details for reporting a notifiable disease updated.
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Updated the current situation to take account of situation in France.
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Added a link to photos of clinical signs of bluetongue disease.
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Updated link to the latest qualitative risk assessment for bluetongue virus (BTV-8) entry into the UK.
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Update on details for movements during an outbreak
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Updated following bluetongue virus (BTV-8) risk assessment of entry into the UK in 2016.
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AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
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AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
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First published.