Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges

Farmers in parts of the UK have been put on alert as a bluetongue restriction zone has been extended to areas of the South West. Cases outside of the current restricted zone include those detected in Cheshire and Cumbria.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges. According to the government, Bluetongue virus affects sheep, cattle, other ruminants such as deer, goats and camelids such as llamas and alpacas.

Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:

• ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
• discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth
• swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot)

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal Health and Plant Agency have broadened the zone following a case discovered in Dorset. The zone now encompasses Dorset, additional regions of Wiltshire, sections of Somerset and parts of East Devon.

The government states: “The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2024 to 2025 vector season is 212 (210 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 restricted zone was expanded on February 14, after cases were found in cattle in Dorset. The restricted zone has been implemented as part of the government’s winter surveillance and in accordance with their policy to contain and slow the spread of the disease.

The UK is in a seasonally vector low period. This means the risk of transmission of bluetongue is now very low. Farmers must still have a licence to move animals or germinal product out of a restricted zone, arrange for a pre-movement test for all animals moving out of the restricted zone (unless for slaughter) and apply for a licence to freeze germinal products within restricted zones.

16 cases of BTV-3 have been detected in premises which are now outside the current restricted zone. The premises are in Bath, North East Somerset (BANES), Somerset, Shropshire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Anglesey, Gwynedd, North Yorkshire and Cornwall. The animals were moved to these premises from areas where disease is now known to be circulating, but the moves took place before bluetongue restrictions were put in place.

If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling 03000 200 301 in England, 03003 038 268 in Wales or your local Field Services Office in Scotland.