Bluetongue Situation: Current Updates You Must Know

The current bluetongue situation indicates that 101 cases of Bluetongue Virus (BTV-3) have been identified in England during the 2026 to 2027 bluetongue season. In Wales, there have been 4 confirmed instances of BTV-3, while Scotland and Northern Ireland report no cases for the same period. Overall, the UK has recorded a total of 105 bluetongue cases. In cases where animals exhibit suspicious clinical signs, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) provides funding for diagnostic testing for up to three affected animals. For further information, the bluetongue case map details locations of all premises in Great Britain with confirmed PCR-positive results for bluetongue serotypes 3, 8, or 12. You can select relevant map layers for cases confirmed since July 1, 2024. **Latest Updates** As of August 3, 2026, nine new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England after reports of atypical clinical signs: - Three cattle in Devon displayed signs including lethargy, fever, runny eyes, nasal discharge, and mouth ulcers, testing positive for BTV-3. Additional observations noted three more animals and four dairy heifers similarly affected. - An adult ewe in Cornwall, with symptoms such as reluctance to stand, lack of appetite, muzzle swelling, and mouth ulcers, also tested positive for BTV-3. - Three sheep in Cornwall, showing clinical signs like fever, swollen heads, stiffness, and ulceration of the tongue, were confirmed positive for BTV-3. - In Somerset, one cow and one calf with clinical manifestations including nasal discharge, runny eyes, lameness, and nasal crusting tested positive for BTV-3. - Another ewe in Cornwall showed signs of depression, fever, lameness, and mouth ulcers, receiving a positive BTV-3 result. - One more ewe in Cornwall presented with depression, drooling, head swelling, and tongue erosions, confirming positive for BTV-3. - Additionally, three adult sheep in Cornwall displayed lethargy and facial swelling, with one having a tongue ulcer, all testing positive for BTV-3. - In Somerset, three adult cattle observed for symptoms of lameness and frothing at the mouth tested positive for BTV-3. - Two suckler cows in Somerset, with lameness and nasal issues, were also confirmed positive for BTV-3. In Wales, one new BTV-3 case was confirmed on August 3, 2026, based on a non-negative result from a voluntary pre-movement test: 25 out of 196 bovines sampled tested positive for BTV-3. **Summary of Cases** Between July 10 and August 3, 2026, the following cases were reported by county: - Devon: 46 - Somerset: 28 - Cornwall: 14 - Cheshire: 5 - Powys: 2 - Staffordshire: 2 - Derbyshire: 1 - Dorset: 1 - East Riding of Yorkshire: 1 - Greater Manchester: 1 - Lancashire: 1 - Vale of Glamorgan: 1 - Wiltshire: 1 - Ceredigion: 1 - Total: 105 cases **Species Affected:** - Sheep (including ewes, rams, and lambs): 121 - Cattle (including cows, heifers, and calves): 81 - Llama: 1 **Detection Methods:** - Reports of suspicious clinical signs: 100 - Voluntary pre-movement tests: 4 - Germinal product testing: 1 **Risk Level** Midges spreading the bluetongue virus were noted to become active again on March 31, 2026. Following recent warm temperatures, experts have indicated that conditions are now suitable for virus development within the midges, increasing the risk of onward transmission. Animals may also become infected via germinal products (semen, ova, embryos). Temperatures in many regions of continental Europe have similarly risen, further enhancing the risk of transmission from midges carried across the English Channel. The likelihood of bluetongue virus incursion remains at a medium risk level (occurs regularly), but the chances of airborne entry remain minimal. **Control Zones** Currently, all of England is classified within a bluetongue restricted zone. While movements of animals within England do not require specific bluetongue licenses or pre-movement testing, the freezing of germinal products necessitates a license and mandatory testing, with keepers responsible for associated costs. Since November 10, 2025, an all-Wales restricted zone has been established, allowing free livestock movement between England and Wales, but testing of germinal products is still necessary. Transporting live animals from a Restricted Zone to Scotland must comply with conditions outlined in a general movement license, effective from June 1, 2026, until at least September 9, 2026. For additional guidance on moving animals, vaccination, biosecurity, livestock identification, and Defra's strategies concerning the bluetongue situation, please refer to relevant resources. **Historical Context** - The initial cases for BTV-3 in the 2026 to 2027 outbreak season were confirmed on July 10, 2026. - In contrast, the 2025 to 2026 season reported 348 cases in Great Britain, predominantly in England with some in Wales, but none in Scotland. - The prior season (2024 to 2025) had 163 confirmed cases in England and Wales, including one instance of BTV-12. - The 2023 to 2024 season recorded the first incursions in the UK in over 15 years, confirming 126 BTV-3 cases in England. - The last outbreak prior to these incidents involved BTV-8 during the 2007 to 2008 period. For more information on the bluetongue situation, please visit [Gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bluetongue-latest-situation) or [World Organisation for Animal Health](https://www.oie.int). For details on livestock migration, visit our [livestock guide](https://www.globemigrant.com/livestock) or learn more about the [current bluetongue outbreak](https://www.globemigrant.com/bluetongue-outbreak).

Bluetongue Situation: Current Updates You Must Know

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