Bluetongue UK November 2025: cases, risk and rules
Let’s get you briefed on bluetongue this week. Defra’s update on 11 November 2025 sets out the current cases, risk rating and movement rules; we turn that into clear, practical guidance you can use on farm or in class.
Start with the basics. Bluetongue is a virus that affects ruminants and is spread by biting midges. The insect picks up the virus from an infected animal and passes it on when it feeds again. Activity peaks in warmer months, which is why seasons matter for control. Quick definitions: vector is the midge that carries the virus; serotype is the strain (such as BTV‑3 or BTV‑8); PCR is the lab test used to confirm infection.
Where things stand today: there have been 172 cases in Great Britain since July 2025. England accounts for 159 of these (145 BTV‑3 only, one BTV‑8 only, five with both serotypes). Wales has recorded 13 BTV‑3 cases so far, and there have been none in Scotland. Between 3 and 10 November, officials confirmed 18 new cases in England across Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Somerset and West Sussex. Recent positives have been picked up through routine surveillance, pre‑movement checks and farm reports, which is why reporting matters. With temperatures dropping, Defra currently classifies onward spread by midges in the south‑east, East Anglia, the south‑west and the north‑east as very low. The overall risk of the virus arriving from outside Great Britain remains medium, while the risk of airborne incursion is low.
Why the weather matters: adult midges typically live for up to a month and, once infected, can transmit the virus for the rest of their lives. Colder, windier spells reduce flight and feeding, and the virus struggles to replicate inside the insect. That biology explains the seasonal dip you often see in winter risk statements.
In England, the whole country has been under a bluetongue restricted zone since 1 July 2025. You can move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre‑movement testing, provided you meet the general conditions that apply to moves to farms, markets, shows and slaughterhouses. Keep good records, plan ahead with your market or haulier, and speak to your vet if you are unsure.
In Wales, a country‑wide restricted zone came into force at 00:01 on Monday 10 November 2025. Within Wales, routine moves do not need a specific licence or pre‑movement tests, and cross‑border moves between the Welsh and English restricted zones run under a general licence. Wales has also declared an infected area covering the same footprint, which places legal limits on moving animals on and off premises and across the boundary.
What this means for you if you trade across the border: read the wording of the General Licence EXD671(EW) and keep copies of any documents you travel with. Markets and shows will expect you to meet the licence conditions before unloading. If your animals are heading to Scotland, review the relevant general licences and any pre‑movement testing your vet advises.
Germinal products - semen, ova and embryos - are handled more tightly because they can move infection forward in time. In England, you need a specific licence to freeze germinal products and testing is required; keepers are responsible for sampling, postage and testing costs. Speak to your vet, your breeding centre and your clients so paperwork, approvals and test results are lined up before collection.
Vaccination sits alongside biosecurity. In England, the BTV‑3 vaccine can be used under a general licence; you must follow the licence conditions and report any use within 48 hours. Vets are advised to read the Chief Veterinary Officer’s note before prescribing. The practical step for you is simple: ask your vet whether BTV‑3 vaccination fits your herd or flock, and schedule it well ahead of the spring transmission window.
Day‑to‑day prevention still helps. Source stock responsibly, maintain insect control on housing and around handling areas, and keep movement plans flexible during milder spells. Adult midges are most active from April to November, and local weather - temperature, wind and rain - shapes their activity and range, so factor conditions into big moves.
Keep your identification and movement records sharp. If you keep camelids, or you are unsure about rules for cattle, sheep, goats or deer, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency for advice before moving animals. That call can save you time and reduce risk later on.
If you suspect bluetongue, act fast: speak to your vet and report it to APHA straight away via the GOV.UK guidance. You are legally required to report suspected cases, and early testing helps protect neighbouring herds and flocks. Print the reporting page and keep it by the farm office phone.