Bluetongue: latest situation

# Bluetongue: latest situation Overview of current bluetongue cases, risk level, vaccinations and restrictions. Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it if you suspect it. ### Total number of confirmed cases (premises) There have been 1, Removed: 227 End removed. Added: 272 End added. cases of bluetongue serotype 3 ( BTV-3 ) or unspecified serotype bluetongue in the UK in the 2026 to 2027 bluetongue season. A case is defined as a premises on which at least one bluetongue positive animal has been confirmed. This includes: • Removed: 1063 End removed. Added: 1108 End added. cases in England • 134 cases in Wales • 30 cases in Scotland • 0 cases in Northern Ireland There have been no cases of bluetongue serotype 8 ( BTV-8 ) in the 2026 to 2027 bluetongue season. The  bluetongue case map shows the location of all premises in Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR for bluetongue or have been confirmed based on clinical diagnosis. ### Latest updates #### Removed: 14 End removed. Added: 15 End added. September 2026 #### England Removed: 42 End removed. Added: 45 End added.  new cases of BTV were confirmed in England on Removed: 14 End removed. Added: 15 End added. September 2026. There were cases in: • Cheshire • Cornwall • Removed: Devon End removed. Added: Cumbria End added. • Derbyshire • Removed: Dorset End removed. Added: Devon End added. • Removed: Gloucestershire • Herefordshire • Hertfordshire End removed. Added: Somerset End added. • Staffordshire • Removed: West Yorkshire End removed. Added: Wiltshire End added. 41 cases were confirmed as BTV-3 . Of these Removed: 31 End removed. Added: 29 End added. cases involved sheep and Removed: 10 End removed. Added: 12 End added. cases involved cattle. All 41 cases were tested following reports of suspicious clinical signs. Removed: 1 End removed. Added: 3 End added. further Removed: case End removed. Added: cases End added. of BTV Removed: was End removed. Added: were End added. formally confirmed following clinical diagnosis, with the serotype unspecified. Removed: This End removed. Added: These End added. Removed: case End removed. Added: cases End added. involved Removed: sheep End removed. Added: cattle End added. and Removed: was End removed. Added: were End added. reported following reports of suspicious clinical signs. Further information on this can be found in the press brief from 11 September 2026: Government steps up bluetongue response. #### Wales Removed: 6 End removed. Added: 0 End added. new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in Wales on Removed: 14 End removed. Added: 15 End added. September 2026 Removed: . There were cases in: • Camarthenshire • Pembrokeshire • Powys All 6 cases involved sheep and were tested following reports of suspicious clinical signs End removed. . #### Scotland Removed: 3 End removed. Added: 0 End added. new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in Scotland on Removed: 14 End removed. Added: 15 End added. September 2026 Removed: . There were cases in: • Dumfries and Galloway Of these cases 2 involved sheep and 1 involved cattle. 2 cases were tested following reports of suspicious clinical signs and 1 was the result of a pre-movement test End removed. . All cases presented with clinical signs typical of those seen in recent cases. #### Ongoing investigations There are currently 1, Removed: 652 End removed. Added: 633 End added. potential cases of bluetongue under investigation in Great Britain. These are premises that have reported suspicious clinical signs and where the keeper has not yet received the test results. Private vets can now report suspect cases of bluetongue using our online form. Find out how to spot and report the disease . The  bluetongue cases map  has been updated to show suspect and confirmed cases of bluetongue. It also shows cattle and sheep population density. ### Summary of confirmed cases #### Cases (number of premises) by county or local authority ##### England 10 July to midnight Removed: 14 End removed. Added: 15 End added. September 2026 County Number of cases (and change since last update) Cheshire Added: 38 (+9) Cornwall 169 (+2) Cumbria 15 (+1) Derbyshire End added. 29 (+2) Removed: Cornwall End removed. Added: Devon End added. Removed: 167 End removed. Added: 535 End added. (+ Removed: 6) Cumbria 14 Derbyshire 27 (+3) Devon 515 (+17 End removed. Added: 20 End added. ) Dorset 32 Removed: (+5) End removed. East Riding of Yorkshire 2 Gloucestershire 4 Removed: (+1) End removed. Greater Manchester 6 Herefordshire 5 Removed: (+2) End removed. Lancashire 76 Leicestershire 4 Lincolnshire 1 Norfolk 1 Northamptonshire 1 Northumberland 1 North Yorkshire Removed: 9 End removed. Added: 10 (+1) End added. Rutland 1 Shropshire 14 Somerset Removed: 94 End removed. Added: 96 (+2) End added. Staffordshire Removed: 54 End removed. Added: 61 End added. (+ Removed: 4 End removed. Added: 74 End added. ) Warwickshire 2 West Midlands (Solihull) 1 West Yorkshire 7 Removed: (+1) End removed. Wiltshire 3 Worcestershire 1 Total Removed: 1062 End removed. Added: 1108 End added. (+ Removed: 41 End removed. Added: 45 End added. ) See our  bluetongue cases map . ##### Wales Local authority Number of cases (and change since last update) Bridgend (Peny bont ar Ogwr) 3 Caerphilly (Caerffili) 2 Cardiff (Caerdydd) 2 Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin) 19 Removed: (+2) End removed. Ceredigion (Sir Ceredigion) 9 Conwy (Conwy) 2 Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych) 3 Flintshire (Sir y Fflint) 2 Gwynedd (Gwynedd) 12 Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy) 5 Neath Port Talbot (Castell need Port Talbot) 4 Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro) 16 Removed: (+1) End removed. Powys (Powys) 36 Removed: (+3) End removed. Rhondda Cynon Taf (Rhondda Cynon Taf) 4 Swansea (Abertawe) 6 Vale of Glamorgan (Bro Morgannwg) 7 Wrexham (Wrecsam) 3 Total 134 Removed: (+6) End removed. ##### Scotland County Number of cases (and change since last update) Aberdeenshire 1 Dumfries and Galloway 29 Removed: (+3) End removed. Total 30 Removed: (+3) End removed. #### Species involved The following species have test positive for bluetongue since 1 July 2026: • sheep (including ewes, rams and lambs) • cattle (including cows, heifers and calves) • alpaca • llama • goat The total number of affected animals is likely to be significantly higher than reported because testing does not always include every animal on a premises. #### Method of detection How detected Number of premises Report of suspicious clinical signs Removed: 1190 End removed. Added: 1235 End added. Voluntary pre-movement test 22 Germinal product testing 4 Surveillance and tracings 1 Private test (reason unknown) 6 #### 2025 to 2026 season See historical cases for earlier cases. ### Wellbeing support for animal keepers See our list of organisations offering wellbeing support to those in the farming community . ### Apply for funding for a vet visit If you are a livestock keeper in England, you can apply for a vet to visit your farm and give  expert advice to help protect your livestock. During the visit, vets will advise on bluetongue risks and how to reduce them and check your animals for signs of disease. ### Risk level The risk of bluetongue virus incursion from: • all routes – is medium (occurs regularly) • airborne routes – is low (event is rare, but could occur) This includes serotypes that are not currently circulating in England. The midges that spread bluetongue became active again on 31 March 2026. Temperatures are still consistently high enough in many parts of the UK and nearby continental Europe for the virus to develop inside the midges. This means onward transmission is now occurring. There is some bluetongue circulating in northern Europe and there remains a low risk of transmission from infected midges blown across the Channel. Animals can also get infected through germinal products (semen, ova or embryos). ### Control zones There are bluetongue restricted zones across the whole of England and Wales and in an area of South West Scotland around Dumfries and Galloway. You can check the restricted zones using the  bluetongue zone map . #### 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 . Read the  details of the restricted zone in England . #### Wales: country-wide restricted zone An all-Wales restricted zone was introduced on 10 November 2025. This has the following effects: • free movement of livestock – livestock movements between England and Wales do not require bluetongue vaccination or mitigation measures • restrictions on germinal products – you must test donor animals before freezing and marketing germinal products, as this provides quality assurance and reduces the risk of longer-term bluetongue transmission #### Scotland: restricted zone A  restricted zone was put in place in South West Scotland on 10 September 2026. Livestock keepers must follow the movement controls on animals and germinal products and apply for a licence where needed. Check the  bluetongue case map  and  GOV.SCOT  for more information. #### Moving live animals from a restricted zone to the disease free area of Scotland (including shows, markets, gatherings, even if temporary) England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and south west Scotland all have bluetongue virus BTV restricted zones, and any movement of bluetongue susceptible animals from a BTV restricted zone to Scotland must comply with the conditions set out in the general movement licences . Check the rules on movements to and from Scotland . ### Moving animals and animal products Find out about: • moving animals within the restricted zone • general licences to move animals and germinal product from the restricted zone to Scotland or Wales • moving, freezing and storing germinal product • moving certain animals from Northern Ireland to Great Britain ### Vaccination and biosecurity Find out about: • BTV-3 vaccination • how to slow the spread of bluetongue ### Livestock identification and movement rules Find out about: • keeping cattle, bison and buffalo in England and Wales • keeping sheep and goats in England • keeping deer in England: tagging, movement and record keeping rules 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 . ### Latest GOV.UK press release • 11 September 2026: Government steps up bluetongue response • 25 August 2026: APHA strengthens bluetongue disease response • 21 August 2026: Bluetongue virus: from reporting to results • 14 August 2026: Livestock keepers urged to be on high alert and consider vaccination as bluetongue cases rise ### 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 . ### Historical cases The first cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 ( BTV-3 ) of the 2026 to 2027 outbreak season was confirmed on 10 July 2026. #### 2025 to 2026 outbreak 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 no cases in Scotland These cases were confirmed between 11 July 2025 and 23 June 2026. There were 5 confirmed cases 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 bluetongue virus serotype 12 (BTV-12) was confirmed in England on 7 February 2025 Giving a total of 163 cases. These cases were confirmed between 26 August 2024 and 31 May 2025. #### 2023 to 2024 outbreak season (1 July 2024 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.