A total of 180 cases of bluetongue have been reported in England during the 2025–2026 vector season, predominantly BTV-3, although BTV-8 (endemic in France) has also been detected. There have been cases where BTV-3 and BTV-8 have been diagnosed concurrently. Thirteen cases of BTV-3 have been reported in Wales, which remains outside the restricted zone. No cases have been identified in Scotland.
There is concern about under-reporting, as some clinical signs—such as fever and lethargy—are non-specific and may be misdiagnosed. As winter progresses, new infections are expected to decline in line with falling midge numbers. However, the full extent of BTV’s impact on herds is unlikely to be clear until spring calving.
Many herds along the east coast of England have reported notable drops in pregnancy rates, with high numbers of abortions and calves born with severe neurological impairment. Farms that have vaccinated against BTV should be well protected against these devastating outcomes, and we strongly encourage all herds to consider boosting immunity with a second dose next spring.
Contact us to speak with a member of the team if you would like to discuss options for your farm and livestock.
The location of all confirmed cases are shown on the BTV map, available here.
For all of those wanting a concise group with all of the latest updates and veterinary advice from HNVG on BTV-3, our WhatsApp channel has regular updates posted from the team. Unlike emails or text messages, the WhatsApp Channel updates without being intrusive, letting you dip in and out of all the current information. Simply follow the link below, and you’ll find us in the ‘updates’ tab in your WhatsApp. Follow the link.
BTV-3 Pre-Movement Testing: What You Need to Know
Confused about what is required when it comes to moving livestock in and out of BTV-3 Restricted Zones (RZ)? We’ve removed the jargon to help you plan ahead.
1. Apply for a movement licence from APHA. You must have an official movement licence to move animals from the RZ. Apply for this before your animals are tested, as it can take up to 10 calendar days to process.
2. Test for BTV-3, at your expense.
> All cattle*, sheep, and other ruminants must have a negative PCR test before leaving the RZ.
> The test must be done within 7 calendar days before the planned move, by an approved OV.
> If your movement license comes through before your blood results, call us with your license number for us to chase your blood results.
> You cannot move animals until the negative results are back and you have an official APHA movement licence.
*If cattle are vaccinated with Bultavo Vaccine, they are exempt from a pre-movement test from England RZ into Scotland (NOT Wales).
3. Your stock must NOT HAVE ANY CLINICAL SYMPTOMS of BTV-3 before movement.
Contact us for more information or to book your pre-movement tests.
If you’re taking animals to a market in England, and you want the option to sell to a buyer from Wales or Scotland, there are specific rules you must follow:
> The animal must have a negative pre-movement test for BTV-3.
> This test must be carried out under licence EXD597, before the sale.
> If sold to a Welsh or Scottish buyer, the animal can move from the market under general licence EXD608.
> Important: For Scotland, tests are valid for 7 calendar days after sample collection. For Wales, a test will be valid for 7 working days from the day the sample is taken.
> Welsh buyers purchasing in England who want to move animals into Wales.
> Scottish buyers purchasing in England who want to move animals into Scotland.
> Apply for the movement licence before the blood test
> Plan ahead – allow time for both testing and paperwork
> We’re here to help – make sure you’re ready before market day. Speak to your vet about arranging tests in good time.
Bluetongue Virus (BTV-3) – Further Case Confirmed 🔴
Following on from yesterday’s disease update, a further case of Bluetongue Virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) has now been confirmed in Buckinghamshire.
One sheep tested positive after showing suspicious clinical signs, including:
High temperature (pyrexia)
Salivation and nasal discharge
Swollen muzzle, lips and tongue
Congestion of the oral mucosa
Lethargy and poor response to treatment
This mirrors the clinical picture seen in the most recent confirmed case reported on 11 July.
🛑 Bluetongue is a notifiable disease.
If you suspect signs, you must report it immediately by calling:
📞 03000 200 301 (England) and contacting your vet.
👩⚕️ Speak to one of our farm vets for advice on:
Clinical signs
Vaccination options
How to best protect your livestock
📍 Hook Norton Vets Farm Team: 01608 730085
> Herefordshire – Two cattle tested positive for BTV-3 following a non-negative result during pre-movement testing.
> Oxfordshire – One sheep was confirmed positive after presenting with clinical signs, including:
Hot, painful feet
Reluctance to move
General dullness and being unwell
It was also unresponsive to prescribed treatments
The 2 new cases highlight the importance of vigilance, especially as midge activity increases during the summer. The restricted zone for BTV-3 has been extended to cover all of England. Meaning that you can now move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or pre-movement testing. However, you need to meet the conditions of general licence EXD612(E).
> Monitor animals closely for any unusual clinical signs
> Maintain high standards of biosecurity
> Vaccinate – discuss options with your vet
Please ensure that you have reported your use of the BTV-3 vaccine, submitted your ear tag numbers, and returned all your vaccine bottles to HNVG.
Vaccination remains the most effective long-term option for disease control. You are encouraged to discuss BTV-3 vaccination with your vet to determine if it is right for your animals. If you vaccinate your animals, you must report it within 48 hours.
Until 12 June 2025
The current pre-movement testing exemptions apply in England, Scotland and Wales.
From 12 June 2025
The current pre-movement testing exemptions will be extended until 23:59 on 30 June 2025 in England. This means you still won’t need to test non-breeding animals over 60 days old before moving them from the restricted zone to a premises in England.
Wales and Scotland will announce changes to their controls by 12 June 2025.
From 1 July
You will be able to move animals within England without a bluetongue licence or testing.
You will need to have a specific licence to freeze germinal products within the restricted zone, and testing will be required. Keepers will be responsible for the cost of sampling, postage and testing.
For full details of the restrictions, please visit this link.
Please ensure that you have reported your use of the BTV-3 vaccine, submitted your ear tag numbers, and returned all your vaccine bottles to HNVG.
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
The following updates are for Show and Event Guidance & Changes to Pre-movement Testing Rules.
Bluetongue guidance for shows and events has been updated. This guidance only applies to movements of bluetongue susceptible animals (camelids are worse affected, sheep, goats, cows, buffalo, deer & camels). Non-susceptible animals may attend shows as normal.
Defra updated the guidance on 9th May to indicate that the UK is now in a low-risk period of vector transmission. This is when midges are active but are unlikely to be infectious. The risk of vector transmission of bluetongue is considered low but remains under review.
You must still have a licence to move animals out of a restricted zone, but you may not require a pre-movement test.
Shows held outside the bluetongue restricted zone – Susceptible animals must be licensed to leave the bluetongue restricted zone to attend shows. These licences may include pre-movement testing requirements.
Animal keepers should check with show organisers what their policy is for accepting susceptible animals from bluetongue zones.
Shows held inside the bluetongue restricted zone – You can move susceptible animals freely within the restricted zone to attend and return from shows being held within the same restricted zone.
Susceptible animals entering the restricted zone from the free area to attend shows:
You must apply for the specific licence in advance of the show.
Bluetongue suspicion or confirmation at the show – If bluetongue is suspected at the showground, the animal keeper or show organiser must immediately notify the APHA with details of the animal. If you’re the show organiser, you should contact APHA for advice on how to manage the show. The show may be allowed to continue, but all susceptible animals must remain on the premises until after a veterinary inspection is completed. You must not accept any further susceptible animals into the showground until disease is no longer suspected.
You can check which animals need pre-movement testing and see the full guidance online here – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue-guidance-for-shows-and-events-in-england-in-2024
Bluetongue pre-movement testing exemptions have been extended from 15 May and now apply until 12 June 2025, (unless notified otherwise).
This means that you do not have to test non-breeding animals over 60 days old before moving them out of the restricted zone. You must apply for a specific movement licence to move animals out of the restricted zone.
The animals you currently have to test are:
This exemption may end sooner if the risk of bluetongue transmission increases.
Bluetongue pre-movement testing sample validity changes
The length of time that pre-movement test samples are valid is changing from 21 days to 10 days, from 27 May 2025. Samples taken:
You must time your sampling so that samples are valid on the planned move date.
———————————————————————————————————————
Already vaccinated? Make sure you have reported your use of the BTV-3 vaccine, submitted your ear tag numbers and returned all your vaccine bottles to HNVG.
Find details of all bluetongue disease control zones in England, and check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue disease control zone map.
The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2024 to 2025 vector season is 242 (240 in England and 2 (high risk moves) in Wales).
The total number of BTV-12 cases in Great Britain for the 2024 to 2025 vector season is 1 (in England).
The location of all premises in Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR to bluetongue serotype 3 or serotype 12 is available on the bluetongue case map. By clicking on the map layer icon, you can also see the restricted zone and infected area, as well as density maps for cattle and sheep numbers.
Until 23 April 2025, you do not need to test non-breeding animals over the age of 60 days before being moved out of the restricted zone. This temporary change reflects the current low risk of moving these animals out of the zone.
The only animals you currently need to test before movement are:
> entire males intended for breeding
> females who are pregnant or have unknown pregnancy status
> youngstock if they are aged 60 days or younger at the time of the movement, unless they are travelling at foot with the maternal dam – in this case, you can test the maternal dam by PCR and ELISA
You must still apply for a specific movement licence for moving animals out of the restricted zone.
This is a temporary change that will apply until 23 April 2025, although we may end the exemption sooner if the risk of bluetongue virus transmission has increased.
As a result of the reduction in risk, certain restrictions were eased from 21 January, including removing the following:
> The requirement for post-movement testing of animals (this means that post-movement tests aren’t needed if animals were sampled on or after 15 January 2025. Animals sampled on or before 14 January 2025 or on a licence requiring a post-movement test must have one).
> The use of insecticide on vehicles
> The requirement to send animals from the Restricted Zone to designated abattoirs.
More info is available on GOV.UK and in the related press release.
Restrictions will be revised when vector activity increases again with warmer temperatures, which tends to be in March/April.
Movements of live animals not going to slaughter, moving from a Restricted Zone to the Free Area, require pre-movement testing.
You need to apply for a licence through the Animal Disease Movement Licensing Service (ADMLS).
Apply to move animals within, into and out of bluetongue zones (link below) and then contact HNVG/your vet to request pre-movement sampling and quote the licence reference number.
The Licensing Team require 10 days’ notice for these movements – to allow time for
> customers to arrange sampling,
> sampling to be carried out,
> risk assessments to be carried out on the movement and
> a licence to be issued
Samples should not be collected by your vet more than 5 calendar days prior to the intended departure date. Pre-movement samples must arrive at the laboratory for testing a minimum of a full 3 days prior to the movement date to allow time for processing and reporting of results.
Details regarding the licenses required from and to different areas are detailed here.
Link to Animal Disease Movement Licensing Service
Link to BTV-3 Approved Slaughter Markets and Approved Breeding Sales
Keep an eye on our newsletters and social media for more updates, and contact us if you are unsure.
