2026 bluetongue updates
31st July 2026
A worrying trend in rising Bluetongue cases is leading to farmers inquire about vaccination.
A spike in cases has been seen in north Devon, with a smaller number of cases through the West Midlands into eastern Wales and as far north as Preston. So far, all the cases are strain 3.
Commencing the week of the start of the new vector season - 29th June 2026 - numbers in England are as follows:
Week 1 = 5 BTV calls
Week 2 = 17 BTV calls
Week 3 = 49 BTV calls
Week 4 = 155 BTV calls
Week 5 = 590 as of Thursday afternoon
APHA has reported 28 negative reports and 57 confirmed reports and 234 investigations ongoing.
Michael Priestley, NSA Policy Manager said: “It appears we may be seeing Bluetongue flare up this summer and the virus really work its way around livestock. The number of cases in sheep is higher, about 2.5 times the number seen in cattle, which could reflect vaccine take up. The advice is for sheep keepers to liaise with their vets, assess risk and look at vaccination. Vaccination is the only practical tool to mitigate the risk.”
You can find updates on the bluetongue situation with APHA here.
Additional information on the outbreak, movement legislation and options for dealing with the disease are available here.
24th July 2026
An alarming increase in positive bluetongue cases is causing concern with 29 cases in confirmed in England over the last two weeks, 15 of which have been in sheep. This is significantly higher than this time last year. The South West of England appears to be a particular hotspot currently with a high proportion of cases confirmed in the Exmoor area.
Along with fewer vaccination levels this season, this is causing serious concern. Farmers are encouraged to speak to their vets and consider vaccination. Vaccines are still considered to be effective for 12 months, so revaccination for many will be due.
NSA would also remind keepers that blood samples being submitted need to be clearly labelled with the full individual IDs, the same is relevant for vaccination reporting.
This is according to the latest Defra update (22nd July) available to read here.
Scotland remains bluetongue free and Northern Ireland has had no cases in the 2026/27 season.
5th May 2026
Scottish Government has announced it has reviewed the BTV movement licences for moves from a Restricted Zone (RZ) to Scotland to live, for the high-risk period in Scotland (1st June to 9th September).
It is hoped the new approach will be more flexible for industry.
The EXD597 specific licence has now been retired. The EXD645 pro forma for movements from a RZ to live in Scotland is still in use. The EXD608 general licence has been changed to accommodate movements of all animal categories from a RZ to Scotland to live.
Sales/collections centres operators are still required to endorse the general licence after verifying the animals are accompanied by the pro-forma and associated evidence.
There is also a new condition that any animal moving from a RZ to Scotland to live (not slaughter animals) must be treated with an insecticide pour-on within 7 days of a move to, or back to Scotland, except for cattle treated with bultavo-3, in order to reduce the risk of midges being able to survive past the incubation period, should they bite an animal that picked up infection whilst in the RZ.
Key points:
For RZ naturalised animals to move to Scotland to live
- EXD645 pro forma completed by keeper ahead of move to Scotland, gathering supporting evidence of (if applicable); negative PCR/ELISA test results/dates, vaccine purchase/dosage and insecticide pour-on treatment.
- The move must be logged on the APHA portal – (EXD645 + supporting evidence) – **Keepers should note reference number at point of application and give it to the sale/collection centre**
- Keeper prints copy of EXD645, inputs APHA portal reference number, and copies supporting evidence, which forms the ‘EXD645 form pack’ that accompany the animals, (or sent ahead to new keeper prior to movement)
- Market/collection centre operators in a RZ, must endorse the EXD608 general licence stating that a EXD645 form pack(s) are present and correct, also indicating destination premises when known
- Scottish market/collection centres should confirm animals entering their premises are compliant with conditions of the EXD608 and are accompanied by a valid EXD645 form pack, and passing that information to the end keeper
- Only animals moved to Scotland to live from the RZ require the pour on insecticide, which must be done according to the label. Keepers must observe withdrawal periods if animals diverted to a slaughterhouse. Bultavo-3 vaccinated cattle are exempt from insecticide requirement.
- The final keeper in Scotland should receive a copy of the ‘EXD645 form pack’, also the APHA portal reference number which may require uploading to ScotEID
Scotland sourced animals attending Show/Sale that return to Scotland
- EXD645 not required (until 4 day limit in a RZ is surpassed for anything other than bultavo-3 treated cattle)
- Show operator must endorse EXD608 general licence confirming animals spent <4 days in RZ, or are bultavo-3 vaccinated cattle (using ScotEID info or vaccine invoice/medicine record)
- All animals require an insecticide pour on treatment within 7 days of the move back to Scotland, other than Bultavo-3 vaccinated cattle
11th March 2026
Revised Proposed Disease Control Strategy for Scotland in 2026
Vaccination
- All bluetongue-susceptible animals moving from a RZ to Scotland to live, should be vaccinated for BTV-3 in line with a products label, with 21 days elapsing since completion of the primary course.
- Animals moving from Scotland into a RZ can only return to Scotland if vaccinated.
- Bovines must be vaccinated for BTV-3 using Bultavo-3 to move to Scotland to live.
- Animals that are unable to be vaccinated must be tested for bluetongue ahead of a movement from a Restricted Zone to Scotland and within 7 calendar days of the move occurring.
- It is strongly recommended that all bluetongue susceptible animals (sheep, cattle, goats, camelids, and other ruminants) are vaccinated for BTV-3.
Movement to live general conditions
- All bluetongue susceptible animals, prior to move from an RZ to Scotland, should be fully vaccinated for BTV-3, with 21 days elapsing since completion of the primary/booster course in line with the product label.
- Animals moving from Scotland to a RZ may only return to Scotland if vaccinated.
- Bovines must be vaccinated using Bultavo-3.
- Any unvaccinated animals must be PCR tested within 7 days of the move, prior to a movement to Scotland from an RZ.
- No animal(s), regardless of being vaccinated or having tested negative for bluetongue, may move to Scotland to live from a premises where a BTV positive animal has been detected in the last 6 months.
Moves to shows/markets – Scotland to an RZ and returning to Scotland
- The previous allowance of a four day period inside an RZ is withdrawn for 2026.
- Animals moving from Scotland into a RZ can only return to Scotland if vaccinated.
- All bluetongue susceptible animals moving into Scotland from other UK countries must be vaccinated for BTV-3, in line with a products label, with 21 days elapsing since completion of the primary/booster course.
- Bovines must be vaccinated for BTV-3 using Bultavo-3, all other species may use any BTV-3 vaccine.
- Any unvaccinated animals must be PCR tested with negative results within seven calendar days of the move, prior to a movement to Scotland from an event within the Restricted Zone
5th March 2026
DAERA and DAFM announce reciprocal Bluetongue derogations to ease trade (Northern Ireland update)
Agriculture Ministers on both sides of the border have today moved to lift animal movement restrictions for breeding and production which were introduced following the Bluetongue outbreaks in both jurisdictions.
Following extensive stakeholder engagement, Northern Ireland Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir and Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon have authorised derogations that will allow for the recommencement of cross border movements of Bluetongue susceptible species like cattle and sheep from 9am on Friday 6th March.
