Bluetongue latest updates
April 2026
There have been 330 cases of bluetongue since 1 July 2025.
England - 303 cases, including 293 cases of only BTV-3, 3 cases of only BTV-8 and 7 cases with both BTV-3 and BTV-8
Wales - 22 cases of BTV-3
There have been no cases in Scotland - no cases
Northern Ireland - 5 confirmed cases of BTV-3
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.
2 cows in Cumbria.
1 calf in Staffordshire.
19 March 2026
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.
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.
9 March 2026
Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 9 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 1 calf in Devon.
1 calf in Cheshire.
1 cow (dam of the calf) tested positive 6 March 2026
One new case of BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 6 March 2026 following private testing: 1 bull in Cornwall.
5 March 2026
Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 5 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 1 calf in Cornwall .
several other calves with similar clinical signs were not tested.
2 calves in Cornwall.
1 cow (dam of the twin calves) tested positive
4 March 2026
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 4 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs: 4 bovines in Devon including 3 cows and the calf of one of the cows.
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 4 March 2026 following private testing:
2 cows in Devon.
3 March 2026
Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 3 March 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:
1 calf in Cumbria.
1 cow tested following the birth of its calf in Staffordshire.
1 newborn calf in Devon
2 cows (one was the calf’s dam)
One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 3 March 2026 following private testing:
1 cow in Oxfordshire.
Bluetongue virus is transmitted by midges and affects cows, goats, sheep and other camelids such as llamas. It can reduce milk yield, cause sickness, reduce reproductive performance or, in the most severe cases, cause death of infected animals.
Bluetongue does not pose a threat to human health or food safety.
Bluetongue has been successfully picked up in a number of cattle imported from France through the UK's robust post-import testing regime.
Strict rules on the movement of livestock from regions affected by bluetongue are already in place. Farmers are reminded that animals from these regions must be accompanied by the relevant paperwork to clearly show they meet certain conditions designed to reduce disease risk, such as correct vaccination.