Bluetongue: latest situation

1. 6muzzle
2. 1 Augustcow 2026

   Fifty-threein newCornwall caseswith ofketosis, BTV-3milk wereyield confirmeddrop, inreduced Englandappetite onand 5erosions Auguston 2026,nose, all were tested followingpositive reportsfor ofBTV-3

3. 1 suspiciousbovine clinicalin signs.Cornwall Ofwith these,fever, 50slight casesdrooling involvedand sheepfacial andswelling, 3tested involvedpositive cattle.for AllBTV-3
4. 1 casessheep presentedin Devon with clinical signs typicalincluding offever, thosenasal seendischarge, incrusty recentnose cases.

5. 5and Augustlameness, 2026

   Twenty-ninetested newpositive casesfor of BTV-3

6. 1 weresheep confirmed in EnglandCornwall onreported 4to Augustbe 2026dull followingwith reportsswollen oflips, suspicioustested clinicalpositive signs: -for BTV-3
7. 1 adult sheep in CornwallCheshire with clinical signs including fever, lethargy,lameness, nasalswelling dischargeof coronary bands and swellingcrusting around thenose, muzzle -tested positive for BTV-3
8. 1 ramsheep in Devon with clinical signs including depression,fever, lethargy, fever,lameness swellingand aroundulcers theon lips and crustytongue, nose -tested positive for BTV-3
9. 2 lambssheep in Devon with clinical signs including lameness,sore droolingfeet, andulcers swellingin aroundmouth, muzzlehigh temperature, swollen muzzles and jaw -drooling, tested positive for BTV-3
10. 1 sheep in DevonSomerset with clinicalblueness signsof includingmouth fever,and nasaltongue, dischargeerosions on the nose, dental pad and lameness -tongue 1and ewelameness, tested positive for BTV-3
11. 3 cattle in Devon with clinical signs including fever,lameness, lethargy,crusty weakness,muzzles, swollennasal facedischarge and crustyreddening nose -of 1the ewegums tested positive for BTV-3
12. 3 cattle in DevonSomerset with clinical signs including fever,crusty oralmuzzles, lesions,tested swollenpositive lipsfor and crusty noseBTV-3 -
13. 3 sheep in Devon with clinical signs including swollenlethargy, face,lying bloodyon nasaltheir discharge,sides, swollenexcess face,salivation, erosionscrusty nose, ulcers on tonguedental pad and lamenessulcers on the cornea, tested positive for BTV-3 -
14. 3 sheep in Somerset with pyrexia, nasal discharge, drooling, swelling around the lips and swelling of coronary bands, tested positive for BTV-3
15. 3 sheep in CornwallSomerset with clinical signs including oralfloppy lesions,ears, crustyswelling nose,around muzzle and lameness, swollentested heads,positive bloodyfor nasalBTV-3
16. 1 discharge,cow swollenin face,Devon erosionswith oncrusty tonguemuzzle and lameness.increased Twotemperature, of the 3 tested havepositive died. Keeperfor reportsBTV-3
17. 1 17sheep othersin Somerset with similarcrusty clinicalnostrils, signsswelling (notand tested)redness of thesecoronary 10bands, havedifficulty died -breathing 2and ewesfever, tested positive for BTV-3
18. 1 ram in DevonGreater Manchester with clinical signs including lethargy, lameness,excess drooling,salivation and nasal dischargedischarge, andtested gumpositive lesionsfor BTV-3 -

One 3new sheepcase of BTV-3 was confirmed in CornwallEngland withon 24 July 2026 following a non-negative private pre-movement test:

• 1 cow in Lancashire tested positive for BTV-3 following a private pre-movement test. No clinical signs includingwere fever,observed

One increasednew breathingcase rate,of BTV-3 was swollenconfirmed lips,in nasalWales dischargeon and24 lethargy -July 32026 sheepfollowing reports of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 cow in CornwallPowys, Wales, with clinical signs includingincluding weakness, fever,swelling lethargy,of swollenthe heads,eye, fever and nasal dischargedischarge, andtested crustingpositive aroundfor BTV-3. theThe nosecow was euthanised on welfare grounds
-

23 1July ram2026

Two andnew 1cases eweof inBTV-3 Cornwallwere foundconfirmed deadon after23 unwellJuly over2026 thefollowing weekend -reports 3of sheepsuspicious clinical signs:

• 1 bovine animal in DevonEngland with clinical signs including fever, swollenunsteady face,gait, ulcerslethargy, drooling with small ulcer in mouth, crustingtested aroundpositive nose,for oneBTV-3
• 1 cannotnew standcase andof oneBTV-3 haswas confirmed in Wales on 23 July 2026 following a stiffnon-negative gaitprivate pre-movement test
-

22 July 2026

Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 22 July 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:

• 3 sheepewes in Devon with clinical signs including fever,crusty swollenmuzzles, face,nasal droolingdischarge, ulcers on dental pad, lameness and ulcerslethargy, intested mouth. Approximatelypositive 10for BTV-3
• 1 sheep within similarDevon with clinical signs (notincluding tested)a haveswollen diedface, -crusting someof cattlethe onnose and yellow discolouration under the farmtongue, havetested alsopositive beenfor affectedBTV-3 -
• 1 ramsheep in Devon with clinical signs including fever,lethargy, swellingdrooling, aroundredness mouthof teats and greyishcrusting colouron ofears, liningtested positive for BTV-3

21 July 2026

Five new cases of mouthBTV-3 foundwere deadconfirmed afterin unwellEngland overon the16 weekend -July 12026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:

• 2 sheep in CornwallSomerset with clinical signs including fever, crusting of the muzzle, nasal discharge, lameness,increased respiratory rate, swelling aroundof mouthface and coronarymuzzle, bandsinappetence and increasedsore breathingfeet, ratetested positive for BTV-3 -
• 1 cow in Somerset with crusting of the muzzle, fever and irregular gait, tested positive for BTV-3
• 1 heifer in Devon with a fever, tested positive for BTV-3
• 3 sheepcattle in Devon with clinical signs includingof drooling,lameness, lethargy,redness swellingof onmuzzle, lipsulcers andin jawthe mouth and crustinglethargy, aroundtested muzzle -positive for BTV-3
• 1 cowsheep in StaffordshireSomerset with swollenclinical head,signs raisedincluding temperaturelethargy, facial swelling, nasal discharge and increasedfever, salivation -tested 3positive sheepfor inBTV-3. DevonAnother ewe with similar clinical signs includingdied fever,3 lethargy,days unableearlier

21 toJuly stand.2026

One Drooling,new frothingcase atof mouth,BTV-3 swellingwas confirmed in Wales on 21 July 2026 following a non-negative private test:

• 1 cow in Powys, Wales, tested positive for BTV-3 following a private test associated with embryo transfer

20 July 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 20 July 2026 following reports of face,suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 sheep in Devon with clinical signs of excessive salivation, ulceration of the dental pad, lameness and erosionsloss of tonguebody andcondition, lips -tested positive for BTV‑3
• 2 sheep in DevonSomerset with clinical signs including fever,nasal lameness,discharge, swollendullness, vulva,nasal discharge, panting, scouring and swollenpoor painfulbody gumscondition, tested positive for BTV‑3. Both sheep died
-

17 3July 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 17 July 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:

• 2 sheep in DevonSomerset with clinical signs includingof fever, drooling,lip swellinglesions, ofexcessive face,salivation ulcersinappetence inand mouthlameness, andtested nasalpositive discharge -for 3BTV‑3
• 9 sheep in Somerset with clinical signs including crusty nose, nasal discharge, lesionsdrooling, onswelling lipsaround the mouth, lameness and dental2 pad,sudden skindeaths, rednesstested inpositive somefor animalsBTV‑3
-

17 1July sheep2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in DevonWales withon 17 July 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signssigns:

• 1 includingheifer lethargy,in nasalthe dischargeVale andof mildGlamorgan lameness -sampled 4following rams6 abortions within a month in Devona withgroup depressionof but15 noheifers, othertested signspositive for BTV-3 -

16 2July sheep2026

Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in DevonEngland withon 16 July 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signssigns:

• 1 includingdairy lethargy,heifer in Somerset with crusting aroundof the nose,muzzle, swellingulcers aroundin lipsthe mouth and lameness -nostril, 3and sheepstiffness when walking, tested positive for BTV‑3
• 1 lamb in CornwallDevon with clinicalexcess signssalivation, includinga fever,swollen drooling,face swellingand faceshigh andtemperature, nasaltested discharge -positive 1for sucklerBTV‑3
• 3 cowsheep in CornwallDevon, including 1 ram, with clinical signs includingof fever,lameness, facial swelling, drooling, reddeningredness aroundand thefever eyestemperature, tested positive for BTV‑3. One animal died, and weepingin eyes -addition to the 3 positive animals a further 2 are showing similar clinical signs.
• 3 sheep in Devon with clinical signs including fever,facial crustyswelling, noses,drooling teethand grinding,fever, cloudytested eyes,positive droolingfor andBTV‑3. mouthTwo ulcers -of 2the sheep were scouring
• 3 sheep in DevonSomerset with clinical signs including fever,rapid intermittentloss lameness,of swollenbody facecondition, fever and mouthlesions ulcers
  around the muzzle or in the mouth, tested positive for BTV‑3. One of the animals has died
• 4

14 AugustJuly 2026

Nine

Two new cases of BTV-3 wereof BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 314 AugustJuly 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: -

• 2 3calves cattle in DevonCheshire born blind, unable to stand properly and with clinicalother neurological signs includingtested lethargy,positive fever,for BTV-3
• 1 runnycow eyes,in dischargeDevon fromwith nostrilscrusting of muzzle, reddened and ulcersswollen ineyes mouth,and reddening of teats tested positive for BTV-3.for BTV-3

10 AJuly further2026

One 3new animalscase andof BTV-3 was 4confirmed dairyin heifersEngland alsoon showing10 similarJuly clinical2026 signs -following 1reports adultof suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 ewe inStaffordshire Cornwallpresented with head swelling, drooling, crusty nostrils and lameness on all 4 feet

Given the clinical signs includingand reluctancelaboratory results this case represents the first confirmed case of infection this summer.

2025 to stand,2026 offseason

See food,historical swellingcases for earlier cases.

Risk level

The midges that spread bluetongue became active again on 31 March 2026. Following the recent warm weather, experts advise that cumulative temperatures are now high enough for the virus to develop inside the midges, and crustingonward transmission is now possible. Animals can also get infected through germinal products (semen, ova or embryos).

Temperatures are also now high enough in many areas of nearby continental Europe for the muzzle,virus swellingto andhave rednessdeveloped inside midges. This means that we would expect any midges in mouththese areas which were newly infected in the last few months to have the potential to have completed their extrinsic incubation period (EIP) and ulcerbecome infectious. The risk of transmission from midges blown across the channel has increased.

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 negligible.

Control zones

Check if you’re in a zone on lowerthe bluetongue lip,zone testedmap.

Read positivethe for BTV-3. -details 3of sheepeach zone.

England: country-wide restricted zone

The whole of England is in Cornwalla withbluetongue clinicalrestricted signszone. includingYou fever,can swollenmove head,animals stiffness,within swellingEngland aroundwithout coronarya bands,specific crustingbluetongue aroundlicence noseor pre-movement testing.

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

Wales: testedcountry-wide positiverestricted for BTV-3.zone

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

• -free 1movement cowof livestock – livestock movements between England and 1Wales calfno inlonger Somersetrequire withbluetongue clinicalvaccination signsor includingmitigation nasalmeasures
• continued discharge,restrictions runnyon eyes,germinal lamenessproducts – you must continue to test donor animals before freezing and crustingmarketing aroundgerminal products, as this provides quality assurance and reduces the nose,risk testedof positivelonger-term for BTV-3.bluetongue transmission.
-

Moving 1live eweanimals infrom Cornwalla withRestricted clinicalZone signs(RZ) includingto depression,Scotland fever,(including shows/markets/gatherings, lameness,even swellingif oftemporary)

• England, headWales, Northern Ireland and coronarythe bandsIsle of Man all have bluetongue virus BTV RZs, and offany food,movement testedof positivebluetongue for BTV-3. -susceptible animals from a BTV RZ to Scotland must comply with the conditions set out in the general movement licence EXD608(EW). These controls came into force on 1 eweJune 2026 and will remain in Cornwallforce withuntil clinicalat signsleast including9 depression,September drooling,2026. swellingFurther details of head,movements erosionsto and from Scotland can be found on Gov.Scot.

Moving animals and animal products

Find out about:

• moving animals within the tonguerestricted zone
• general licences to move animals and lipsgerminal product from the restricted zone to Scotland or Wales
• moving, freezing and painstoring aroundgerminal coronaryproduct
• moving bands,certain testedanimals positivefrom for BTV-3. -Northern 3Ireland adultto sheepGreat inBritain

Vaccination Cornwalland withbiosecurity

Find clinicalout signsabout:

• BTV-3 includingvaccination
• how lethargy,to swellingslow the spread of face,bluetongue

Livestock lamenessidentification and onemovement hasrules

Find anout ulcerabout:

• keeping oncattle, thebison tongue,and testedbuffalo positivein for BTV-3. -England 3and adultWales
• keeping cattlesheep and goats in SomersetEngland
• keeping withdeer clinicalin signsEngland: includingtagging, lameness,movement frothingand atrecord mouth,keeping crustingrules

Contact aroundthe Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) if you keep camelids (such as llamas or alpacas) or you’re unsure about the eyesrules.

Importing animals and 1animal products

Check the rules on imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal hasproducts.

Webinars, anleaflets, ulcervideos inand mouth,posters

Watch testedrecordings positiveof for BTV-3.bluetongue webinars.

Find leaflets, videos and posters about bluetongue.

-Defra’s 2bluetongue sucklercontrol cowsstrategy

Defra controls cases of bluetongue by following the Bluetongue: disease control framework in SomersetEngland.

Historical withcases

The clinicalfirst signscases includingof lameness,bluetongue frothingvirus atserotype mouth3 and(BTV-3) crustyof noses,the tested2026 positiveto for BTV-3.2027 outbreak season was confirmed on 10 July 2026.

19. 3

    2025 Augustto 2026

    Ten newoutbreak season (1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026)

    There were 348 cases of bluetongue in Great Britain in the 2025 to 2026 bluetongue season. In:

    • England, there were 324 cases of bluetongue – including 311 cases of only BTV-3, 5 cases of only BTV-8, 7 cases with both BTV-3 and BTV-8 and 1 case of BTV (serotype unknown)
    • Wales, there have been 24 cases of BTV-3
    • There were confirmedno cases in EnglandScotland

    These oncases 31were confirmed between 11 July 20262025 followingand reports23 ofJune suspicious2026.

    There clinicalwere signs.5 Oneconfirmed newcases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland.

    2024 to 2025 outbreak season (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025)

    Defra confirmed 160 BTV-3 cases in England and 2 from high risk moves in Wales. One case of BTV-3bluetongue virus serotype 12 (BTV-12) was confirmed in England on 317 JulyFebruary 20262025 followingGiving a non-negativetotal privateof pre-movement163 test.cases.

20. These cases were confirmed between 26 August 2024 and 31 May 2025.

    2023 to 2024 outbreak season (1 July 2026

    First2024 published.to 30 June 2025)

    Between 10 November 2023 and 3 March 2024 Defra confirmed 126 BTV-3 cases in England on 73 premises (119 cattle and 7 sheep). These BTV-3 cases were the first UK BTV incursions for over 15 years. 

Prior to these cases the last confirmed outbreak of bluetongue was an outbreak of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8), which took place over 2007 to 2008.