Bluetongue in Britain: cases, risk and rules Oct 2025
If you keep or study sheep, cattle, goats or deer, here’s the picture this week. Since July 2025, Great Britain has confirmed 123 bluetongue cases in the 2025–26 vector season. England has 117 cases of BTV‑3 and 2 of BTV‑8; Wales has 4 BTV‑3; Scotland has none. Fresh confirmations on 17 October included East Sussex, Nottinghamshire and Cheshire, following cases earlier in the week in Cornwall, Somerset, Derbyshire and Berkshire. These figures come from Defra and APHA’s latest update on 18 October 2025.
Bluetongue is a livestock disease caused by a virus that primarily affects ruminants (such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer) and camelids (such as alpacas and llamas). It spreads mainly via bites from certain species of tiny midges. It does not affect people or food safety, which is why the focus is on animal health and movement rules.
When officials talk about “vectors”, they mean carriers of disease. For bluetongue the vector is the Culicoides biting midge. As temperatures fall, midge activity drops. Government experts currently assess onward spread by midges as low in the south‑east, East Anglia, the south‑west and the north‑east, although the risk of the virus arriving from all routes remains medium.
To check what’s happening near you, Defra publishes two useful tools: a live zone map and a case map. The zone map shows whether your postcode falls inside a control zone. The case map lists premises that have tested positive by PCR for serotypes 3, 8 or 12. These are updated alongside the official situation report.
You will see two key terms in updates. A Restricted Zone (RZ) is a large area with the same rules. From 1 July 2025 the bluetongue RZ covers all of England, so you can move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre‑movement testing. A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is a ring set up quickly around an infected premises; Wales declared a TCZ near Tintern, Monmouthshire, from 6pm on 1 October 2025 to limit local spread while investigations continue.
Some items are treated differently to live animals. Freezing semen, ova or embryos anywhere in England requires a specific licence and testing, and keepers pay for sampling, postage and testing. Build this into your breeding plans and talk to your vet before you collect or freeze germinal products.
Moving animals across borders still needs care. Use the latest general licences when sending animals or germinal product from England’s RZ to Scotland or Wales, and follow the Welsh TCZ rules if you are moving to, from or through that zone. Markets and shows may apply additional checks, so plan early and keep your paperwork straight.
If you suspect bluetongue, report it straight away. In England call 03000 200 301; in Wales call 03003 038 268; in Scotland contact your local Field Services Office. APHA will triage your case and either rule out disease or arrange testing. Inside England’s RZ, your private vet can submit samples to the Pirbright Institute using an APHA authorisation code; lab testing for up to three affected animals is free, while you cover sampling and postage.
After a positive result, what happens depends on the serotype. For BTV‑3 in England, APHA does not automatically restrict the premises or animals because the entire country is already in an RZ. Other serotypes, such as BTV‑8, can still trigger restrictions and extra control measures. Your duty vet will explain next steps.
Vaccination is now a practical option alongside biosecurity. Three BTV‑3 vaccines-Bluevac‑3, Bultavo 3 and SYVAZUL BTV 3-have marketing authorisations for use in Great Britain. In England you vaccinate under a general licence and must report vaccination within 48 hours; vets should follow the Chief Veterinary Officer’s advisory note when prescribing.
Timing matters for testing vaccinated stock. Government guidance advises you not to test vaccinated animals as part of a pre‑movement test until at least seven days after vaccination, to avoid interfering with monitoring. Build that interval into any sales or show plans.
For your lesson notes or farm team brief: vector means the carrier (here, midges); PCR is a lab method that detects the virus; serotype is the virus type (BTV‑3 and BTV‑8 are the ones identified this season); germinal products are semen, ova and embryos; APHA is the Animal and Plant Health Agency that manages disease response.
Simple steps reduce risk: house animals at dawn and dusk to limit midge bites, keep biosecurity tight, source stock responsibly, consider vaccination with your vet, and keep identification and movement records up to date so tracing is fast if needed. Defra’s biosecurity guide walks through these measures.
Numbers and advice change quickly. Keep checking Defra and APHA’s ‘Bluetongue: latest situation’ page-last updated on 18 October 2025-for new cases, risk assessments and any changes to movement or vaccination rules. We will continue to translate those updates for students, keepers and educators.