News story

Bluetongue: latest situation

Overview of current bluetongue cases, risk level, vaccinations and restrictions.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published
4 August 2025
Last updated
1713 November 2025 — See all updates

Contents:

Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it if you suspect it.

Total number of cases

There have been 194180 cases of bluetongue in Great Britain in the 2025 bluetongue season (since July 2025). In:

  • England, there have been 181167 cases of bluetongue - including 175161 cases of only BTV-3, 1 case of only BTV-8 and 5 cases with both BTV-3 and BTV-8
  • Wales, there have been 13 cases of BTV-3

There have been no cases in Scotland.

The location of all premises in Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR for bluetongue serotype 3, serotype 8 or serotype 12 is available on the bluetongue case map.

Latest updates

1412 November 2025

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 1412 November 2025 following reportsroutine ofbluetongue suspicious clinical signs:surveillance:

  • 1 bovine in CheshireWest with fever, lameness and crusting around noseSussex
  • 14 bovinebovines in CornwallEast with fever and inflammation of coronary bandsSussex

11 November 2025

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 1411 November 2025 following private testing:

  • 12 bovinebovines in BedfordshireStaffordshire

SevenThree new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 1411 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance:

  • 1 bovine in Devon
  • 7 cattle in WestEast Sussex
  • 71 cattlebovine in HampshireSomerset
  • 21 cattlebovine in East SussexSomerset

10 November 2025 - further case

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 2 cattlebovines in Staffordshire in Devon

10 November 2025

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following reports of poor fertility:

  • 1 bovine inon DorsetIsle of Wight

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following private testing:

  • 1 bovine in DevonCheshire

13 November 2025

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 1310 November 2025 following reportscollection of suspiciousgerminal clinical signs:products:

  • 1 bovinecow in CornwallCheshire

One withnew fever,case droolingof BTV-3 in andEngland reluctancewas toconfirmed eaton 10 November 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test:

  • 1 bovine in Derbyshire in Hampshire

ThreeFour new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 1310 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance:

  • 513 cattle in DevonWest Sussex
  • 8 cattle in Hampshire
  • 8 cattle in Devon
  • 6 cattle in East SussexHampshire

127 November 2025

TwoOne new casescase of BTV-3 in England werewas confirmed on 127 November 2025 following routinereports bluetongueof surveillance:suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 bovine in West SussexDevon
  • 4 bovines in East Sussex

11 November 2025

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 117 November 2025 following privatea testing:non-negative pre-movement test:

  • 24 bovinescattle in StaffordshireHampshire

ThreeTwo new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 117 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance:

  • 72 cattle in EastWest Sussex
  • 12 bovinecattle in SomersetDevon
  • 1 bovine in Somerset

105 November 2025 - further case

OneTwo new casecases of BTV-3 in England waswere confirmed on 105 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 21 bovinesbovine in StaffordshireCornwall
  • 1 bovine in DevonSomerset

104 November 2025

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 104 November 2025 following reports of poorsuspicious fertility:clinical signs:

  • 1 bovine onin Isle of WightCornwall

3 November 2025

One new case of with both BTV-3 in and BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 103 November 2025 following privatereports testing:of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 13 bovinecattle in CheshireCornwall (2 were BTV-3 and 1 was BTV-8)

OneTwo new casecases of BTV-3 in England waswere confirmed on 103 November 2025 following collectionnon-negative ofpre-movement germinal products:test:

  • 1 cowbovine in CheshireCumbria
  • 1 bovine in Derbyshire

1 November 2025

OneFour new casecases of BTV-3 in England waswere confirmed on 101 November 2025 following areports non-negativeof pre-movementsuspicious test:clinical signs:

  • 2 newborn dairy calves in Staffordshire
  • 1 bovinedairy cow in DerbyshireLeicestershire
  • 1 pre-weaned suckler calf in HampshireKent
  • 1 suckler cow in Cornwall

FourOne new casescase of with both BTV-3 in and BTV-8 in England werewas confirmed on 101 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance:

  • 132 cattle in WestCornwall Sussex
  • 8(1 cattlewas BTV-3 and in1 Hampshire
  • 8was cattle in DevonBTV-8)
  • 6 cattle in Hampshire

Risk level

Temperatures have continued to reduce in recent weeks, and experts consider the risk of onward spread by vectors in the south-east, East Anglia, the south-west and the north-east to be very low (event is rare but cannot be excluded). There is however still a risk that animals can get infected from already infected midges or from infected germinal products.

The risk of incursion of bluetongue virus (including serotypes not currently circulating in England) from all routes remains at medium (occurs regularly) although the risk of airborne incursion is now low (event is rare but does occur).

Control zones

Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue zone map.

Read the details of each zone.

Wales: country-wide restricted zone from 10 November

An all-Wales restricted zone was introduced from 00:01am on 10 November 2025. This has the following effects:

  • end of temporary control zone - the temporary control zone and its restrictions have ended
  • end of premises-level restrictions - individual premises across Wales are no longer subject to bluetongue-specific movement or control restrictions
  • free movement of livestock - livestock movements between England and Wales no longer require bluetongue vaccination or mitigation measures
  • continued restrictions on germinal products - you must continue to test donor animals before freezing and marketing germinal products, as this provides quality assurance and reduces the risk of longer-term bluetongue transmission

England: country-wide restricted zone

The whole of England is in a bluetongue restricted zone. You can move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre-movement testing.

You need a specific licence to freeze germinal products (semen, ova and embryo) anywhere in England and testing is required. Keepers are responsible for the cost of sampling, postage and testing. There is more detail in the declaration.

Moving animals and animal products

Find out about:

Vaccination and biosecurity

Find out about:

Livestock identification and movement rules

Find out about:

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

Published 4 August 2025
Last updated 1713 November 2025 + show all updates

  1. Fourteen new cases of BTV were confirmed in England from 13 to 14 November 2025. The cases were in: Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire and West Sussex.

  2. 12 November 2025: Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 12 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: 1 bovine in West Sussex, 4 bovines in East Sussex. 11 November 2025: One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 11 November 2025 following private testing: 2 bovines in Staffordshire. Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 11 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: 7 cattle in East Sussex, 1 bovine in Somerset, 1 bovine in Somerset. 10 November 2025 - further case: One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: 2 bovines in Staffordshire in Devon.

  3. An all-Wales restricted zone came into force on 10 November 2025. Eighteen new cases of BTV were confirmed in England between the 3 and 10 November 2025. The cases were in: Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Somerset and West Sussex.

  4. Updated the total number of cases in England and Wales and the risk level. Added latest updates for 1 November, 31 October, 30 October and 29 October. Also added information about the restricted zone to be declared in Wales on 10 November 2025.

  5. Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 27 October 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: 3 young calves in Cornwall and one yearling dairy heifer in Cornwall. Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 24 October 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: One bovine in Cornwall, 5 dairy youngstock in Cornwall and 4 suckler cows in Cornwall.

  6. Six new cases of bluetongue were confirmed in England on 24 October 2025, and one was confirmed in Wales on the same day. The cases were in Cheshire, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Shropshire and Monmouthshire.

  7. Updated the latest situation section. One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 17 October 2025 in a cow in East Sussex and 2 new cases following a non-negative pre-movement test in 3 cattle in Nottinghamshire and one bull in Cheshire. Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 16 October, one dairy cow in Cornwall, one dairy cow in Cornwall and one dairy cow in Somerset.

  8. Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 15 October 2025. The cases were in Berkshire, Cornwall and Derbyshire.

  9. Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 10 October 2025: one in Dorset and one in West Yorkshire.

  10. Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 9 October 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one freshly calved suckler heifer in Cornwall and one beef calf in Derbyshire.

  11. Eight new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 7 October 2025. The cases were in Derbyshire, Shropshire, the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, West Sussex and South Gloucestershire. One new case of BTV-8 was confirmed on 7 October 2025 in Cornwall.

  12. Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 3 October 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one cow in Cornwall; 2 cows in Derbyshire; one 6-month old calf in Oxfordshire. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in one dairy cow in Shropshire on 3 October 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test.

  13. Four more cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 1 October 2025. The cases were in Derbyshire, Devon and Cornwall.

  14. A bluetongue temporary control zone (TCZ) has been put in place around a premises in Monmouthshire, Wales following confirmation of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3). 

  15. Four new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 30 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one spring born calf in Staffordshire; one suckler cow in Cornwall; one cow in Cornwall; 2 cows in Staffordshire. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in 5 cattle in Staffordshire on 30 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test. One new case of BTV-3 in a suckler cow was confirmed in Powys, Wales on 30 September following reports of suspicious clinical signs. One new case of BTV-3 in a 4-month old calf was confirmed in Powys, Wales on a premises linked to one of the cases confirmed on 26 September.

  16. 26 September 2025 – added a further update about the first cases of BTV-3 being confirmed in Wales. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 26 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs in one suckler cow in Monmouthshire, Wales. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in one bovine in Powys, Wales, on 26 September 2025 following a non-negative post-movement test.

  17. One case of bluetongue serotype 8 (BTV-8) was confirmed in a single sheep in Cornwall on 26 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs. 7 new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 25 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs.

  18. 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.

  19. 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. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in East Sussex on 5 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs.

  24. Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 11 September 2025 and two new cases were confirmed on 10 September 2025.

  25. 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.

  26. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in a ram in East Sussex on 5 September 2025.

  27. Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 5 September 2025: one homebred ram in Cornwall and one heifer in Oxfordshire.

  28. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 2 September 2025 in Hampshire.

  29. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in a dairy cow in Staffordshire on 29 August 2025.

  30. 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.

  31. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 27 August 2025 in Hampshire.

  32. 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.

  33. Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 19 August 2025: one bull in East Sussex and one cow in Hampshire.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. Added information about cases of bluetongue that were confirmed on 6, 7 and 11 August 2025.

  37. First published.