333 Cases of Bluetongue Reported in Great Britain During 2025-2026 Season

News story

Bluetongue: latest situation

Overview of current bluetongue cases, risk level, vaccinations and restrictions.

From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency Published 4 August 2025 Last updated 15 April 2026
— See all updates

Contents:

• Total number of cases
• Latest updates
• Risk level
• Control zones
• Moving animals and animal products
• Vaccination and biosecurity
• Livestock identification and movement rules
• Importing animals and animal products
• Webinars, leaflets, videos and posters
• Defra ’s bluetongue control strategy Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it if you suspect it.

Total number of cases

There have been 333 cases of bluetongue in Great Britain in the 2025 to 2026 bluetongue season (since 1 July 2025). In:

• England, there have been 310 cases of bluetongue – including 299 cases of only BTV-3, 4 cases of only BTV-8 and 7 cases with both BTV-3 and BTV-8
• Wales, there have been 23 cases of BTV-3 There have been no cases in Scotland.

The location of all premises in Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR for bluetongue serotype 3, serotype 8 or serotype 12 is available on the bluetongue case map.

There are 5 confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland.

Latest updates

14 April 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in England on 14 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in Cornwall born blind with neurological signs

10 April 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in Wales on 10 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in Powys with convulsions, star gazing and deafness – post mortem examination revealed brain cavitation

8 April 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in England on 8 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in Devon born with neurological signs and poor sucking reflex

1 April 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 1 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in Gloucestershire born blind and little to no suck reflex
• 1 cow in Cornwall tested following birth of 3 dummy calves in the same herd over the past 2 weeks – all died within 24 hours

27 March 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in England on 27 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in West Yorkshire tested following the finding of brain deformities at postmortem – born alive but lethargic and did not feed

24 March 2026

One new case of BTV-8 was confirmed in England on 24 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 cow in East Sussex tested following a late term abortion/stillbirth

23 March 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in England on 23 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in Lancashire born blind

20 March 2026

Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 20 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 2 calves in Hampshire had neurological signs including star gazing and head tilt
• 2 cows in Cumbria tested following reports of decreased fertility and the birth of a blind calf
• 1 calf in Staffordshire born dull – small and weak and failed to adapt

19 March 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in England on 19 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in Kent born with head and neck malformation and blindness – crusty lesions around muzzle and failed to thrive
  One new case of BTV-8 was confirmed in England on 19 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

• 1 calf in Cornwall born with neurological signs, involuntary eye movement and discolouration around the muzzle

Risk level

Temperatures are increasing, but experts consider the risk of onward spread by vectors in England to be negligible. There is however still a risk that animals can get infected from infected germinal products.

The risk of incursion of bluetongue virus (including serotypes not currently circulating in England) from all routes remains at medium (occurs regularly) although the risk of airborne incursion is now negligible.

Control zones

Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue zone map.

Read the details of each zone.

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.

Wales: country-wide restricted zone

An all-Wales restricted zone was introduced from 00:01am on 10 November 2025. This has the following effects:

• free movement of livestock – livestock movements between England and Wales no longer require bluetongue vaccination or mitigation measures
• continued restrictions on germinal products – you must continue to test donor animals before freezing and marketing germinal products, as this provides quality assurance and reduces the risk of longer-term bluetongue transmission

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.

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 2025 to 2026 vector season was confirmed on 11 July 2025.

Prior to this Defra confirmed 160 BTV-3 cases in England and 2 from high risk moves in Wales between 26 August 2024 and 31 May 2025. One case of bluetongue virus serotype 12 (BTV-12) was confirmed in England on 7 February 2025 Giving a total of 163 cases.

Between November 2023 and 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.

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Updates to this page

Published 4 August 2025 Last updated 15 April 2026 show all updates
1.
15 April 2026

Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in Great Britain between 8 and 14 April 2026. The cases were in Cornwall, Devon and Powys.
2.
7 April 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 1 April 2026. The cases were in Cornwall and Gloucestershire.
3.
30 March 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in West Yorkshire on 27 March 2026.
4.
25 March 2026

Two new cases of BTV were confirmed in England between 23 and 24 March 2026. The cases were in East Sussex and Lancashire.
5.
20 March 2026

3 new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 20 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:
2 calves in Hampshire - Both calves had neurological signs including star gazing and head tilt. 2 cows in Cumbria - tested following reports of decreased fertility and birth of a blind calf. 1 calf in Staffordshire born dull - it is small and weak and has failed to adapt.

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 19 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 1 calf in Kent born with head and neck malformation and blindness. Calf had crusty lesions around muzzle and failed to thrive. One new case of BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 19 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 1 calf in Cornwall born with neurological signs, involuntary eye movement and discolouration around the muzzle.
6.
12 March 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 9 March 2026. The cases were in Cheshire and Devon.
7.
9 March 2026

Fourteen new cases of BTV-3 and one new case of BTV-8 were confirmed between 25 February and 8 March 2026. The cases were in Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire and West Sussex.
8.
25 February 2026

Five new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed between 23 and 24 January 2026. The cases were in Cheshire, Derbyshire, East Sussex, Kent and Nottinghamshire.
9.
23 February 2026

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 19 February 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 1 bovine tested positive private testing in Cheshire.
10.
18 February 2026

13 February 2026

Four new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 13 February 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:
• 1 cow and its 6-day old calf both tested positive following birth of the calf with neurological signs in Buckinghamshire
• I cow tested positive following an abortion in Somerset
• 1 cow tested positive following a series of abortions in the herd in Cheshire
• 1 cow and 1 calf tested positive following birth of 2 calves that were blind and had neurological signs in Derbyshire

12 February 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 12 February 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:
• 1 aborted bovine calf tested following finding of abnormal brain development at postmortem examination in Shropshire. Follows approximately 20 other abortions in the herd
• 2 cows and 1 calf tested positive following birth of two calves with neurological signs in Staffordshire
One new case of BTV-3 in Wales was confirmed on 12 February 2026 following non-negative results from private pre-movement tests:
• 1 bull tested privately as part of pre-movement testing in Denbighshire, Wales

9 February 2026

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 9 February 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:
• 1 cow tested positive following birth of an abnormal calf in Oxfordshire
11.
11 February 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 6 February 2026, in Cumbria
and Kent.
12.
6 February 2026

5 February 2026 - One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 5 February 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 2 cows tested in Staffordshire following a series of abortions in the herd.
4 February 2026 - One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 4 February 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 1 aborted foetus with brain malformation in Devon
3 February 2026 - One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 3 February 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 2 cows tested following abortions, dull calves and brain abnormalities in calves in a herd in Oxfordshire. One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 3 February 2026 following non-negative results from private tests: 1 cow in Cumbria tested as part of surveillance following in vitro fertilisation
13.
1 February 2026

Added update for the 30 January 2026 - One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 1 aborted foetus in Devon. One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed following non-negative results from private tests: 1 bovine in Cumbria tested as part of artificial breeding controls.
14.
30 January 2026

Five new case of BTV-3 in England were confirmed between 27 and 29 January 2026. The cases were in East Sussex, West Sussex, Greater London and Shropshire.
15.
26 January 2026

Fives new case of BTV-3 in England were confirmed between 16 and 22 January 2026.

The cases were in Kent, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire.
16.
14 January 2026

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 12 January 2026 following non-negative results from a private test: 5 cattle in Kent. One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 9 January 2026 following non-negative results from a private test: 1 cow in Devon tested as part of screening prior to collection of embryos.
17.
8 January 2026

Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed between 6 and 7 January 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs. The cases were in Cheshire, Cornwall and Devon.
18.
6 January 2026

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 5 January 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: one cow in Devon.
19.
29 December 2025

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 23 December 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: 3 cattle in East Sussex and 4 cattle in Kent.
20.
20 December 2025

Fifteen new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England and Wales between 16 and 19 December 2025.

The cases were in Kent, Cornwall, Cheshire, Powys, Derbyshire, Wrexham, Somerset, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria.
21.
13 December 2025

Twelve new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England and Wales between 8 and 13 December 2025.

The cases were in South Yorkshire, Wrexham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Powys, Kent, Hampshire, Cheshire and Somerset.
22.
8 December 2025

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 5 December 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: 1 bovine in Devon with fever, swelling of head and crusting around nostrils. Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 5 December 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: 1 bovine in Hampshire, 1 bovine in Kent and 1 bovine in Berkshire.
23.
5 December 2025

Between 2 and 3 December 2025, 4 new cases were confirmed in England. Three cases of BTV-3 only were in Cornwall, Derbyshire, and Devon. One case of both BTV-3 and BTV-8 in different animals was in Cornwall.
24.
1 December 2025

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 28 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: 5 dairy cows in Derbyshire with reduced fertility and milk drop. Five new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 28 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: 8 cattle in Hampshire, 2 cattle in Cornwall, 1 bovine in Kent, 1 bovine in Devon and 1 bovine in Devon.
25.
24 November 2025

Twelve new cases of BTV were confirmed in England and Wales between 18 and 21 November 2025. The cases were in: Cheshire, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Powys, Somerset and Worcestershire.
26.
18 November 2025

Six new cases of BTV were confirmed in England on 17 November 2025. The cases were in: Cornwall, Devon, Herefordshire, the Isle of Wight and Somerset.
27.
17 November 2025

Fourteen new cases of BTV were confirmed in England from 13 to 14 November 2025. The cases were in: Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East Sussex, Hampshire and West Sussex.
28.
13 November 2025

12 November 2025: Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 12 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: 1 bovine in West Sussex, 4 bovines in East Sussex.
11 November 2025: One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 11 November 2025 following private testing: 2 bovines in Staffordshire.
Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 11 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: 7 cattle in East Sussex, 1 bovine in Somerset, 1 bovine in Somerset.
10 November 2025 - further case: One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: 2 bovines in Staffordshire in Devon.
29.
11 November 2025

An all-Wales restricted zone came into force on 10 November 2025. Eighteen new cases of BTV were confirmed in England between the 3 and 10 November 2025. The cases were in: Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Somerset and West Sussex.
30.
1 November 2025

Updated the total number of cases in England and Wales and the risk level. Added latest updates for 1 November, 31 October, 30 October and 29 October. Also added information about the restricted zone to be declared in Wales on 10 November 2025.
31.
28 October 2025

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 27 October 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: 3 young calves in Cornwall and one yearling dairy heifer in Cornwall.
Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 24 October 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance: One bovine in Cornwall, 5 dairy youngstock in Cornwall and 4 suckler cows in Cornwall.
32.
27 October 2025

Six new cases of bluetongue were confirmed in England on 24 October 2025, and one was confirmed in Wales on the same day. The cases were in Cheshire, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Shropshire and Monmouthshire.
33.
18 October 2025

Updated the latest situation section.

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 17 October 2025 in a cow in East Sussex and 2 new cases following a non-negative pre-movement test in 3 cattle in Nottinghamshire and one bull in Cheshire.

Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 16 October, one dairy cow in Cornwall, one dairy cow in Cornwall and one dairy cow in Somerset.
34.
15 October 2025

Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 15 October 2025. The cases were in Berkshire, Cornwall and Derbyshire.
35.
13 October 2025

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 10 October 2025: one in Dorset and one in West Yorkshire.
36.
10 October 2025

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 9 October 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one freshly calved suckler heifer in Cornwall and one beef calf in Derbyshire.
37.
8 October 2025

Eight new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 7 October 2025. The cases were in Derbyshire, Shropshire, the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, West Sussex and South Gloucestershire. One new case of BTV-8 was confirmed on 7 October 2025 in Cornwall.
38.
3 October 2025

Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 3 October 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one cow in Cornwall; 2 cows in Derbyshire; one 6-month old calf in Oxfordshire. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in one dairy cow in Shropshire on 3 October 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test.
39.
2 October 2025

Four more cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 1 October 2025. The cases were in Derbyshire, Devon and Cornwall.
40.
1 October 2025

A bluetongue temporary control zone (TCZ) has been put in place around a premises in Monmouthshire, Wales following confirmation of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).
41.
1 October 2025

Four new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 30 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one spring born calf in Staffordshire; one suckler cow in Cornwall; one cow in Cornwall; 2 cows in Staffordshire.

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in 5 cattle in Staffordshire on 30 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test.

One new case of BTV-3 in a suckler cow was confirmed in Powys, Wales on 30 September following reports of suspicious clinical signs.

One new case of BTV-3 in a 4-month old calf was confirmed in Powys, Wales on a premises linked to one of the cases confirmed on 26 September.
42.
28 September 2025

26 September 2025 – added a further update about the first cases of BTV-3 being confirmed in Wales.

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 26 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs in one suckler cow in Monmouthshire, Wales.

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in one bovine in Powys, Wales, on 26 September 2025 following a non-negative post-movement test.
43.
26 September 2025

One case of bluetongue serotype 8 (BTV-8) was confirmed in a single sheep in Cornwall on 26 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs.

7 new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 25 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs.
44.
25 September 2025

Ten new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 23 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs. The cases were in Cheshire, East Sussex, West Yorkshire and Cornwall.
45.
23 September 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 22 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one cow in Somerset. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 22 September 2025 following a non-negative test following germinal product collection: one ewe in Shropshire.
46.
22 September 2025

20 September 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: three cattle in Cornwall.

19 September 2025

Nine new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 19 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one dairy cow in East Sussex, one sheep in Cornwall, two steers in Cornwall, one yearling boven in Derbyshire, one dairy cow in Derbyshire, two sheep in Cornwall, one ram in Devon. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test: two cattle in Shropshire. One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 19 September 2025 following a non-negative test following germinal product collection: one ram in East Sussex.
47.
19 September 2025

Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 18 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one sheep in Derbyshire; one sheep and one cow in Cheshire; one ewe in Cornwall.
48.
18 September 2025

Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 17 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs: one sheep in Oxfordshire, one sheep in Cornwall, one ram in Cornwall, 2 dairy cows West Yorkshire with milk drop and one cow in Leicestershire.
One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 17 September 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test: two cattle in Shropshire.
49.
15 September 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in East Sussex on 5 September 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs.
50.
12 September 2025

Five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 11 September 2025 and two new cases were confirmed on 10 September 2025.
51.
9 September 2025

Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 5 September 2025: one sheep in Cornwall, one ram in Kent and one sheep in Devon.
52.
8 September 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in a ram in East Sussex on 5 September 2025.
53.
5 September 2025

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 5 September 2025: one homebred ram in Cornwall and one heifer in Oxfordshire.
54.
3 September 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 2 September 2025 in Hampshire.
55.
1 September 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in a dairy cow in Staffordshire on 29 August 2025.
56.
29 August 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 28 August 2025. One cow in Greater Manchester was confirmed positive following a report of suspicious clinical signs.
57.
28 August 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 27 August 2025 in Hampshire.
58.
26 August 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 21 August 2025. The bull in Hampshire was confirmed positive following a report of suspicious clinical signs.
59.
20 August 2025

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 19 August 2025: one bull in East Sussex and one cow in Hampshire.
60.
18 August 2025

Three new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed on 15 August 2025: one sheep in Berkshire; 2 yearling cattle in Hampshire; and one sheep in Oxfordshire.
61.
15 August 2025

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed on 14 August 2025.
Three farmed deer in East Sussex were confirmed positive following a non-negative pre-movement test.
62.
12 August 2025

Added information about cases of bluetongue that were confirmed on 6, 7 and 11 August 2025.
63.
4 August 2025

First published.