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
32 October 2025 — See all updates

Contents:

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

Total number of cases

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season (since July 2025) is 95.91. There have been:

  • 9187 cases in England
  • 4 cases in Wales

The total number of BTV-8 cases in Great Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season (since July 2025) is one. This case was in England.

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

Latest updates

3 October 2025

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.

1 October 2025 further update

Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 1 October 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:

  • one dairy cow in Derbyshire
  • one cow in Devon
  • one ram in Cornwall

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in 7 dairy cows in Cornwall on 1 October 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test.

1 October 2025

Following the confirmation of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) at a premises in Monmouthshire, Wales, the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) for Wales has announced that a bluetongue temporary control zone (TCZ) has been put in place around the premises from Wednesday 1 October.

Find information on bluetongue controls and licence requirements on GOV.WALES.

30 September 2025

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.

26 September 2025 – further update

The first cases of BTV-3 have been 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.

26 September 2025

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.  Any movements on or off the premises will be traced and tested. No additional zones have been declared. 

This is the first case of BTV-8 in the UK since 2008. 

25 September 2025

7 new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 25 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs in:

  • one bull in Greater Manchester
  • one ewe in Devon
  • two ewes in Kent
  • one suckler cow in Derbyshire
  • one recently calved cow in Cornwall
  • one 3-month old calf in Cornwall
  • one suckler cow in Cheshire

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in one bovine in Wiltshire on 25 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test.

Restricted zone

The restricted zone for bluetongue was extended to cover all of England on 1 July 2025. You can now move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre-movement testing.

You will need a specific licence to freeze germinal products (semen, ova and embryo) anywhere in England and testing will be required. Keepers will be responsible for the cost of sampling, postage and testing. Further detail can be found in the declaration.

Check the guidance on:

Risk level

Temperatures have continued to reduce in recent weeks, and experts consider the risk of onward spread by vectors in the south-east and East Anglia to be high (event occurs very often), and in the south-west and north-east to be medium (event occurs regularly). The risk in eastern counties in Scotland is low (event is rare but does occur).

The risk of incursion of bluetongue virus (including serotypes not currently circulating in England) from all routes remains at medium (occurs regularly).

Control zones

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

Read the details of each zone.

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 32 October 2025 + show all updates

  1. 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.

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

  3. 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). 

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

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

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

  14. 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.

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

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

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

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

  19. 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.

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

  21. 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.

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

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

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

  26. First published.