Bluetongue virus – Latest situation: EndChief ofVet theurges seasonal low vector periodvigilance

The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer has urged farmers to remain vigilant for bluetongue virusvirus.

Last afterNovember, APHA and The Pirbright Institute identified the diseasefirst wascase foundof the disease in cattleGreat andBritain sheepthrough inthe Kent,annual Norfolkbluetongue andsurveillance Suffolk.programme.  

TheBluetongue Animalvirus is primarily transmitted by midge bites and Plantaffects Healthcattle, Agencygoats, (APHA)sheep and thecamelids Pirbrightsuch Instituteas identifiedllamas. theThe firstimpacts caseon ofsusceptible theanimals diseasecan vary greatly – some show no clinical signs or effects at all while for others it can cause productivity issues such as reduced milk yield, while in Novemberthe 2023most severe cases can be fatal for infected animals. Bluetongue does not affect human health or food safety.

The virus can also be spread through Greatgermplasm Britain’s(semen, annualova, bluetongueand surveillanceembryos) programme. as well as transmitted from mother to unborn offspring.

Current situation

WeThere are currently no live cases of bluetongue virus and no evidence that there is circulating bluetongue virus. The current risk of bluetongue transmission and therefore the risk level has not changed.  

However, we are out of the seasonal low vector period. This is because biting midge activity has increased with the warmer Spring weather.weather, Weand arethere planningremains fora very high probability of a possiblenew increaseintroduction of bluetongue virus overserotype the3 coming(BTV-3) monthsinto aslivestock thein weatherGreat warmsBritain andin the2024 riskthrough of infected biting midges blowingbeing blown over from northern Europe increases.Europe.  

The risk of bluetongue transmission and therefore the risk level has not changed.

Farms close to the coast in counties along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent and along the south coast from Kent to Devon are at highest risk of incursion. incursion.

Biting midges are most active between April and November and the timing of a potential incursion will depend on the temperature and wind patterns. There is an active surveillance programme running, which involves the trapping of midges across the country and working with partners such as the Met Office to monitor the likely spread of the virus based on temperature and wind patterns.  

Farmers should continue to monitor their animals frequently for clinical signs and make sure their animals and land are registered with APHA so we can locate animals in the event of an outbreak.outbreak. 

There is currently no evidence that there is circulating bluetongue virus.

Surveillance of susceptible animals and epidemiological assessments will continue. We will keep the situation under review.review. 

Find out more information on the the latest situation and guidanceguidance..

Control of the disease  

The Bluetongue Serotype 3 Disease Control Framework does notwas affectdeveloped peoplein ordiscussion foodwith safety.the Thefarming virusindustry. isIt primarilysets transmittedout byhow midgedisease bitescontrol andefforts affectswill cattle,focus goats,on sheepmovement control of susceptible animals and camelidstheir suchgerminal products (semen, eggs, ova and embryos) as llamas.a Theprecautionary midgestool areto moststem activespread betweenof Aprilthe anddisease Novemberuntil a safe and noteffective allvaccine susceptiblefor animalsbluetongue showvirus immediate,serotype or3 any,(BTV-3) signsbecomes widely available.   

Work is underway with vaccine manufacturers to facilitate safe access to a BTV-3 vaccine as soon as possible, but it is vital that any vaccine has the confidence of contractingindustry, consumers and trading partners. This includes understanding the virus.efficacy Theof any vaccine deployed across all species, together with potential impacts on susceptibletrade. 

Free testing is now available for animals canmoving varyfrom greatlythe –highest somerisk showcounties noto clinicallive signselsewhere in Great Britain or effectsto be sold at alla whilemarket forwithin othersa ithigh-risk county where there will be buyers from outside the high-risk counties. This will help guard against animal movements potentially transporting undetected disease to new areas. The high-risk counties are Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:    

“Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety, but the disease can impact livestock farms, and cause productivity issuesissues. 

“We suchknow asthat reducedthe milklikelihood yield,of whilebluetongue invirus entering Great Britain is increasing and so I would urge farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicions to the mostAnimal severeand casesPlant canHealth beAgency. 

“If fatalyou forintend infectedto animals.move animals to live out of high-risk counties please take advantage of this free testing as it will help stop the movement of undetected disease.” 

Animal and Plant Health Agency Chief Executive David Holdsworth said:  

The“The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s world-leading scientists, vets and field teams stand ready to tackle an outbreak of bluetongue virus canand alsothe deployment of APHA resources will be spreadadapted throughto germplasmensure (semen,the ova,approach remains appropriate and embryos)proportionate. 

“We aswill wellcontinue asto transmittedwork fromclosely motherwith farmers and animal keepers to unbornensure offspring. they are kept up to date and supported during any outbreak.”

Strict rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are already in place and farmers are reminded that animals imported from these regions must be accompanied by the relevant paperwork to clearly show they meet certain conditions designed to reduce disease risk, such as correct vaccination.

Following confirmation of BTV in a non-imported animal in England, some trading partners may restrict exports of bluetongue susceptible animals or their products. The latest information on availability of individual individual export health certificates can be found on Gov.uk.

NI and GB ruminants cannot be exported from an GB Assembly Centre to the European Union or moved to Northern Ireland until further notice.

BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of BTV in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301 

More information about bluetongue is is available herehere..