Contents
Total number of cases
There have been 172 cases of bluetongue in Great Britain in the 2025 bluetongue season (since July 2025). In
- England, there have been 159 cases of bluetongue – including 145 cases of only BTV-3, 1 case of only BTV-8 and 5 cases with both BTV-3 and BTV-8
- Wales, there have been 13 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.
Latest updates
10 November 2025
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following reports of poor fertility
- 1 bovine on Isle of Wight
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following private testing
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following collection of germinal products
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 10 November 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test
- 1 bovine in Derbyshire in Hampshire
Four new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 10 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance
- 13 cattle in West Sussex
- 8 cattle in Hampshire
- 8 cattle in Devon
- 6 cattle in Hampshire
7 November 2025
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 7 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 7 November 2025 following a non-negative pre-movement test
Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 7 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance
- 2 cattle in West Sussex
- 2 cattle in Devon
5 November 2025
Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 5 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs
- 1 bovine in Cornwall
- 1 bovine in Somerset
4 November 2025
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 4 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs
3 November 2025
One new case with both BTV-3 and BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 3 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs
- 3 cattle in Cornwall (2 were BTV-3 and 1 was BTV-8)
Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 3 November 2025 following non-negative pre-movement test
- 1 bovine in Cumbria
- 1 bovine in Derbyshire
1 November 2025
Four new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 1 November 2025 following reports of suspicious clinical signs
- 2 newborn dairy calves in Staffordshire
- 1 dairy cow in Leicestershire
- 1 pre-weaned suckler calf in Kent
- 1 suckler cow in Cornwall
One new case with both BTV-3 and BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 1 November 2025 following routine bluetongue surveillance
- 2 cattle in Cornwall (1 was BTV-3 and 1 was BTV-8)
Risk level
Temperatures have continued to reduce in recent weeks, and experts consider the risk of onward spread by vectors in the south-east, East Anglia, the south-west and the north-east to be very low (event is rare but cannot be excluded). There is however still a risk that animals can get infected from already infected midges or 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 low (event is rare but does occur).
Control zones
Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue zone map.
Read the details of each zone.
Wales country-wide restricted zone from 10 November
An all-Wales restricted zone was introduced from 0001am on 10 November 2025. This has the following effects
- end of temporary control zone – the temporary control zone and its restrictions have ended
- end of premises-level restrictions – individual premises across Wales are no longer subject to bluetongue-specific movement or control restrictions
- 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
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.
Moving animals and animal products
Find out about
Vaccination and biosecurity
Find out about
Livestock identification and movement rules
Find out about
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.
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