GovWire

Bluetongue affects:

• sheep
• cattle
• other ruminants such as deer and goats
• camelids such as llamas

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

The last outbreak in England, Scotland or Wales was in 2007.

Latest situation

Update 11 November 2023

Following routine bluetongue surveillance, a single cow has tested positive for bluetongue serotype 3 on a premises near Canterbury, Kent.A 10 km temporary control zone has been declared around the premises where the animal was kept. Movement restrictions apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants.

A number of different types (serotypes) of bluetongue are currently circulating in Europe including:

• BTV-3
• BTV-4
• BTV-8

Bluetongue could spread to the UK if infected midges are carried across the channel by the wind. The south and east coasts of England are at highest risk. The exact level of risk depends on the:

• level of disease in nearby areas of Europe
• weather conditions, particularly wind speed and direction
• temperature

Bluetongue could also spread into the UK if infected animals, blood or germinal products, are imported from countries where bluetongue is circulating.

Bluetongue has been reported in a number of European countries. See the currentoutbreak assessmentsand thetopical issues pagefor more detail.

You should discuss the risks ofimporting stock fromBTVaffected countrieswith your vet.

Vaccination is available for some types of bluetongue. You should discussvaccinating your herd or flockwith your vet.

How to spot 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 Bluetongue 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
• abortion
• death

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
• abortion

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
• abortions

Livestock keepers and vets should consider bluetongue as a possible cause for calves showing these signs.

Photos of clinical signs

Weve published some photos of clinical signs of bluetongue disease on Flickr.

How bluetongue is spread

Bluetongue virus is mostly spread by certain species of biting midges (Culicoides species), many of whichcan be found throughout Great Britain.

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 thebluetonguevirus 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 on 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.

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 1-24 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 biosecurityon your premises
• remaining vigilant

If you import animals, speak to your vet before you decide to import them.

If bluetongue is found to be circulating thenAPHAwill place movement restrictions in zones around the affected premises. Further details on actions taken in the event of an outbreak of bluetongue are described in the GB bluetongue control strategy.

Vaccinating your animals

Vaccination is the best way to protect animals from the bluetongue virus serotypes 1,2,4 and 8. You should discuss with your vet whether vaccination would benefit your business. There is no vaccine available for serotype 3.

You need tocomply with the requirements of the general licenceif you wish to vaccinate animals located outside of a restricted zone for bluetongue.

It can take up to 6 weeks for your animals to be fully immune, as your animals will require a period of time for immunity to develop following vaccination and may require 2 doses of the vaccine, 3 weeks apart.

Vets can apply to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for a Special Import Certificate (SIC).

The certificate allows keepers to import safe and effective bluetongue vaccine directly to vaccinate their stock.

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 themodel health certificateto confirm theyve 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 youre importing from
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