What’s new on this page?
19 September: The high risk counties have been extended to include East Riding and Lincolnshire. Keepers not already covered by the existing RZ are eligible for free testing and vaccination under the new general licence.
16 September: The government has issued a general licence for using the inactivated BTV-3 vaccine in England.
4 September: Defra’s Secretary of State has permitted the use of three unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines within the United Kingdom, subject to licence.
Watch: AHDB's September bluetongue update, discussing the changing bluetongue situation with experts from the four nations, plus insights from the Netherlands.
Another webinar is scheduled for Wednesday 2 October. Booking details can be found at: AHDB | Bluetongue virus – October update
If you are unable to make these dates you can register and be sent recordings of the webinars.
Signs and symptoms
Bluetongue (BTV) affects sheep, cattle and other ruminants. It is a viral disease spread by biting midges, which affects all ruminants (e.g. sheep, cattle, goats and deer) and camelids (such as llama and alpaca).
BTV-3 is a relatively new strain, first reported in September 2023 in the Netherlands. Cases have since been reported in Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Denmark and Switzerland. The first case was confirmed in the UK on 10 November 2023.
Symptoms vary across ruminants, but include fever, lesions, redness of the mouth, eyes, nose, reddening of the skin above the hoof, excessive salivation and nasal discharge. However, animals may show little or no clinical signs.
It does not affect humans or food safety – meat and milk from infected animals are also safe to eat and drink.
For signs and symptoms of bluetongue, visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease
Reporting suspected cases
Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it you must report it immediately. Failure to do so is an offence:
- England – call the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301.
- Wales – contact 0300 303 8268.
- Scotland – contact your local Field Services Office.
Vaccines
Defra’s Secretary of State has permitted the use of three unauthorised bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines within the UK, subject to licence.
Unlike the authorised vaccines for other BTV serotypes, the BTV-3 vaccines claim to reduce viraemia rather than prevent it. This means they may not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, but (depending on the vaccine) their claims include reduction or prevention of clinical signs experienced or mortality.
For this reason, all movement controls and trade restrictions still apply to vaccinated animals.
Discuss the merits of vaccination for your animals and business with your private veterinarian.
Animal keepers not in a high-risk county will be able to apply for a specific licence (not a general licence), through the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency).
Check if you’re in a high-risk county with the interactive bluetongue virus map.
These vaccines are being used in mainland Europe against BTV-3. These are unlicenced medicines but have been approved in the EU for emergency use.
Key links
Information on BTV-3 vaccines including the SPCs (summaries of product characteristics, permits and licences can be accessed at: GOV.UK | BTV-3 vaccine permits.
The general licence for using the inactivated BTV-3 vaccine in England can be found at: GOV.UK | General licence for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine.
The NFU strongly recommends that those interested in using a BTV-3 vaccine consult with their veterinary surgeon first to establish how a vaccine will benefit your animals and farm system.
It is important that you consider the timings of any vaccination programme and what your future animal movements or buying and selling policy will be.
Please be aware that these vaccines make no claims to reduce viraemia so they may not prevent your animals from being infected or infectious, but (depending on the vaccine) their claims include reduction or prevention of clinical signs experienced, or mortality associated, with BTV-3 so they could provide a benefit in terms of individual animal health and welfare.
Restricted and temporary control zones
On 4 September, a 20km TCZ was declared around Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire. Following confirmation of BTV-3 on a number of premises in East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire the existing TCZ has been revoked and replaced by a larger restricted zone area covering East Riding of Yorkshire and part of Lincolnshire. You can view the map showing the RZ at: GOV.UK | restricted zone in East Riding of Yorkshire and part of Lincolnshire.
The RZ covering Norfolk and Suffolk and Essex, declared on 30 August is still in place and now also includes part of Greater London, Kent and East Sussex. See the map showing the RZ at: GOV.UK | restricted zone in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, East Sussex and part of Greater London. The TCZ near Faversham has been revoked and the area that formed the TCZ is now part of the restricted zone.
There are cases that are not in bluetongue zones, linked to animals that have moved to premises before bluetongue restrictions were put in place or through importing animals from countries close to where disease is present. The premises are under restriction and the infected animals have been culled. Further testing will be undertaken in West Sussex, Bath and North East Somerset to ensure there has been no local transmission.
A list of all cases and control zones is available at: GOV.UK | Notifiable animal disease cases and control zones.
You can access the APHA's interactive map at: APHA | Interactive bluetongue virus map.
Movements and licences
Farmers are urged to only move animals within the RZ where this is absolutely necessary. Any movement carries risk of disease spread.
Movement restrictions apply to:
- all ruminants and camelids moving out of the zone and,
- to the movement of their germinal products within the zone.
Moving to market
Animals may be moved into a market within the zone, but on leaving the market cannot be moved to premises out of the zone.
Moves to markets outside the zones are not currently allowed.
General licences
Animals within the TCZ, RZ or outside of the zones (FA) are allowed to move under general licence to other premises within the restricted zone. This includes to abattoirs within the RZ.
| EXD603 (E) | is the general licence for movements of animals kept within an RZ, PZ (protection zone) or SZ (surveillance zone) to a designated slaughterhouse in England or Wales, for the purpose of immediate slaughter. |
| EXD602 (E) | is the general licence for movements of animals from within a bluetongue TCZ to a designated slaughterhouse in England for the purposes of immediate slaughter. |
| EXD601 (E) | is the general licence for movements of animals from FA or TCZ (same area as slaughterhouse) to a slaughterhouse located in a TCZ in England for the purpose of immediate slaughter. |
Animals can also move to live either within the same TCZ or from FA to TCZ under these general licences:
| EXD610 (E) | for movements of susceptible animals between premises which are wholly or partly inside a TCZ in England. |
| EXD611 (E) | for movements of susceptible animals from a free area into a TCZ. |
| EXD612 (E) | is the general licence published to overcome legal restrictions that would otherwise prevent movement of animals. This does not remove any obligations to comply with BTV movement restrictions and licences and does not permit the movement of animals out of a RZ. |
General licences do not apply if your premises is under a bluetongue restriction notice. If you have been served a bluetongue premises or individual animal restriction notice and wish to move animals, you must apply for a specific licence.
The general licence for using the inactivated BTV-3 vaccine in England can be found at: GOV.UK | General licence for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine.
For more information on general licences, visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue movement licences and designated slaughterhouses – when you need to apply for a licence
Specific movement licences
Specific licences exempt you from disease control movement restrictions in England, Scotland and Wales. This covers any movement or activity within any current disease control zones that are not covered by a general licence.
When you might need a specific licence:
- If you need to move animals to live on premises outside of the RZ
- If you need to move germinal products from susceptible animals out of the zone, or you wish to freeze germinal products in the zone.
Applying for a specific licence:
If you need to move livestock from your holding, you should apply for a specific licence online using the licensing portal on GOV.UK. Visit: GOV.UK | Apply for an exemption from animal disease movement restrictions.
Specific licences for farmers within an RZ and with tracings are available via the licensing portal.
Find out more about bluetongue movement licences at: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: apply for a specific movement licence.
For help completing an application, or if you are unable to access the service and need to request an EXD100 form, contact APHA:
Phone: 03000 200 301
Email: [email protected]
Each movement licence is subject to its own risk assessment, meaning it can take up to five days for a licence to be granted.
Temporary land association and temporary county parish holding
When applying for a specific licence, it is important that the correct TLA and tCPH is in place.
For more information, visit: BTV – preparing for bluetongue on farm | Temporary land associations
GOV.UK references
- Cases and control zones: GOV.UK | Bluetongue information and guidance – cases and control zones
- Signs and reporting: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease
- Movement licences:
- A list of abbatoirs: GOV.UK | Designated slaughterhouses
- The latest situation in the EU: GOV.UK | Bluetongue virus in Europe
- Information on trade: GOV.UK | Imports, exports and EU trade of animals and animal products: topical issues
- Shows and events in England 2024: GOV.UK | Bluetongue guidance for shows and events in England in 2024
RH&W (Ruminant Health and Welfare) provides dedicated information on bluetongue. Visit: RH&W | Bluetongue Virus
Latest news
Bluetongue – a timeline of events
High risk counties extended to East Riding and Lincolnshire
In an update of new measures to tackle bluetongue, the UK Chief Veterinary Officer declared East Riding and Lincolnshire as high risk counties. Further measures included the extension of an RZ in Kent to cover the entire county and East Sussex.
Restricted zone declared in East Riding of Yorkshire and part of Lincolnshire
Following confirmation of BTV-3 on a number of premises in East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire the existing TCZ has been revoked and replaced by a larger restricted zone area covering East Riding of Yorkshire and part of Lincolnshire.
You can view the map showing the TCZ at: GOV.UK | restricted zone in East Riding of Yorkshire and part of Lincolnshire.
Kent TCZ revoked
The RZ covering Norfolk and Suffolk and Essex, declared on 30 August is still in place and now also includes part of Greater London and part of Kent. See the map showing the RZ at: GOV.UK | restricted zone in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, part of Greater London East and part of Kent. The TCZ near Faversham has been revoked and the area that formed the TCZ is now part of the restricted zone.
Bluetongue confirmed in Kent
Following a report of clinical suspicion in a sheep on a premises near Faversham, Kent bluetongue has been confirmed. A 20km temporary control zone has been declared. Movement restrictions apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants and their germinal products.
Extended TCZ in East Riding of Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire
Following detection of bluetongue near Withernsea, East Riding of Yorkshire on 4 September a 20km TCZ was declared. Since then, multiple cases have been detected in North East Lincolnshire, revoking and replacing the original TCZ.
Details of the latest TCZ in place can be found at: GOV.UK | Notifiable animal disease cases and control zones.
Three BTV-3 vaccines permitted for use in the UK
Defra’s Secretary of State has permitted the use of three unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines within the United Kingdom, subject to licence. Available licences to allow use will either be geographically targeted general licences, initially in high risk counties as part of a phased approach, or specific licences which can be applied for through APHA. General licencing will be subject to Risk Assessment. Find out more at: GOV.UK | BTV-3 vaccine permits.
Bluetongue movement restrictions in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex
A Restricted Zone and Infected Area put in place in Norfolk and Suffolk has been extended to cover the county of Essex.
On 31 August 2024, TCZs (Temporary Control Zones) in Norfolk and Suffolk were revoked and replaced by a larger RZ (Restricted Zone) covering Norfolk and Suffolk.
On 2 September 2024, having confirmed the presence of BTV-3 on a number of new premises in Suffolk, the RZ and Infected Area has been extended to cover Essex.
Read Bluetongue movement restrictions on NFUonline, or visit GOV.UK for a full list of confirmed cases and control zones.
Restricted zone introduced in Norfolk and Suffolk
Following further cases of bluetongue BTV-3, the TCZs (Temporary Control Zones) in Norfolk and Suffolk have been revoked and replaced by a larger RZ (restricted zone). The RZ covers the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk.
Farms that have any land within the restricted zone or straddle the boundary are classified as being within the restricted zone.
Movement restrictions apply to all ruminants and camelids moving out of the zone and to the movement of their germinal products within the zone. Defra is urging farmers to only move animals within the zone where this is absolutely necessary.
For more information, visit: Ruminant Health and Welfare | Bluetongue virus
Further three cases confirmed in Norfolk and Suffolk
Following reports of clinical suspicion in sheep on two new premises in Norfolk and Suffolk, BTV-3 has been confirmed in three more animals. The existing TCZ (Temporary Control Zone) has been extended. Details of the restriction can be found at: GOV.UK | Declaration of a (Bluetongue Virus) Temporary Control Zone.
New bluetongue case confirmed in Norfolk
The first UK case of BTV3 in the 2024 season has been confirmed in a single sheep on a mixed farm near Haddiscoe, South Norfolk. The case was identified following a report of clinical suspicion.
A 20km TCZ has been declared restricting movement of cattle, sheep, other ruminants, and their germinal products (semen, ova, and embryos).
For further information and a map of the TCZ please go to: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: near Haddiscoe, South Norfolk, Norfolk (BTD 2024/92) – TCZ.
The farm is now under restrictions and, as there is no current evidence of disease circulation. The animal will be slaughtered in line with the BTV framework released in May: GOV.UK | Disease control framework for bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England in 2024.
Find out more: New bluetongue case confirmed in Norfolk.
Chief Vet reminds farmers of bluetongue risk
Livestock keepers are being urged to take up free testing, as cases of bluetongue increase in Europe.
Over 4,000 cases of BTV-3 have been reported in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium since May 2024. Cases have also been reported in France, Luxemburg and Denmark for the first time ever.
The government's risk level for BTV-3 in the UK remains at medium, but Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss is urging for renewed vigilance as the risk of midges being blown over from northern Europe is very much dependent on weather conditions.
Free testing is available for livestock moving from high risk counties – Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex – to elsewhere in Great Britain. This includes animals that are sold at market in these counties, to owners in low risk counties. Doing so will help prevent the spread of the disease to new areas.
Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: “BTV outbreaks in Europe are on the rise and we must remain vigilant to the threat of disease spread. If you suspect disease in your animals please report.
“If you intend to move animals to live out of high-risk counties, including if you are buying in new animals, please take advantage of the free testing scheme to help stop the movement of non-clinical disease.”
For more information on this story, visit: GOV.UK | Chief Vet reminds farmers of bluetongue risk
Or, for information on free bluetongue testing, visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: get free testing for your animals
Government updates guidance on registering livestock in England
The government is highlighting the importance of registering where livestock is kept to help investigation and control of disease outbreaks.
Updated guidance has been issued on GOV.UK encouraging all livestock keepers (including pet owners) to follow steps to ensure land and livestock locations are registered correctly.
The guidance includes:
- Applying for a CPH (county parish holding) number via the RPA (Rural Payments Agency).
- Information on applying for a TLA (temporary land associations) or temporary CPH (tCPH).
- Registering with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) to get a flock or herd mark.
- Keeping registrations up to date.
- Contact information for the RPA and APHA
It is important to ensure all temporary grazing and buildings are correctly associated with the main holding.
For more information, visit: GOV.UK | Get a temporary land association (TLA) or temporary county parish holding (tCPH) number
Bluetongue guidance for shows and events in England in 2024
The government has published guidance for keepers moving bluetongue susceptible animals to shows and events, and show organisers. The guidance covers:
- Shows taking place in the absence of bluetongue control zones
- Shows due to take place inside bluetongue zones
- Shows outside bluetongue zones
- Bluetongue zones declared after shows have started
- Bluetongue suspicion or confirmation at the show
Read the full guidance at: GOV.UK | Bluetongue guidance for shows and events in England in 2024
Free bluetongue testing now available in 5 high-risk counties
Livestock keepers in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex can apply for free bluetongue testing for susceptible animals if they are to be moved to live out of the high-risk counties listed above.
Tests are also free if susceptible animals will be sold at a market held within any of the high-risk counties where it is anticipated that there will be buyers from outside those high-risk counties. Visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: get free testing for your animals
Defra sets out bluetongue control framework
The NFU has welcomed Defra’s control plan, helping to bring clarity for members. We are urging Defra, vaccine manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and the livestock and dairy sectors work together to bring a licenced vaccine to market to help minimise the impact of this disease.
Risk assessment status set to ‘very high’
APHA confirmed a very high probability of BTV-3 spreading across ruminants in Great Britain.
In its updated risk assessment, the government body warned that the virus could be more widely spread as infected biting midges are blown over from northern Europe.
See: GOV.UK | Bluetongue virus risk set out for the year ahead
Netherlands authorise BTV-3 vaccines
A new vaccine for bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) was approved for use in the Netherlands.
This vaccine has not yet been authorised for use in the UK.
New online movement licensing service
Defra and APHA have launched a new online movement licensing service which will allow APHA to process a higher quantity of applications.
The service also allows livestock keepers to upload supporting documentation, track the status of applications and download licences.
Visit: GOV.UK | Apply for an exemption from animal disease movement restrictions. This service replaces the EXD100 form.
AHDB is running a series of technical webinars which offer vet practitioners and other stakeholders valuable technical information about BTV-3.
Details of upcoming webinars can be found at AHDB | Bluetongue virus technical webinars.
Watch the previous webinars, which have covered topics such as the symptoms of BTV, the midge lifecycle and the impact of temperature on BTV transmission at: YouTube | AHDB.
In May 2024, APHA hosted a Plan, Prevent and Protect webinar aimed at organisers of agricultural shows and other events in England where cattle, sheep, pigs, camelids, poultry, other captive birds and other livestock will be present.
The webinar covered what organisers should consider and prepare for and what actions must be taken to protect the health of animals.
Although bluetongue is not the main topic of the webinar, there is a lengthy talk from Chloe Etherton, Defra Livestock Disease policy adviser, on the subject beginning at 24:45.
For more videos from APHA, visit: YouTube | APHA
In May, NFU President Tom Bradshaw chaired a webinar with the Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss on the risks of a bluetongue spread as we head into warmer weather and Defra’s policy going forward.
Watch again: Bluetongue latest with the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer
NFU CallFirst is also available for help and advice on farming, legal or technical issues on 0370 845 8458.