Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have updated the bluetongue position for Great Britain. As at 1 February 2026, the 2025 vector season totals 284 confirmed cases across Great Britain: 263 in England (255 BTV‑3 only, one BTV‑8 only, and seven mixed BTV‑3/BTV‑8) and 21 BTV‑3 cases in Wales, with none in Scotland. Northern Ireland has separately confirmed four BTV‑3 cases, managed by DAERA. (gov.uk)
Recent confirmations between 27 and 30 January include an aborted foetus in Devon following clinical signs and a bovine in Cumbria detected via artificial breeding controls. Additional detections were recorded in East Sussex, West Sussex, Greater London and Shropshire, including congenital abnormalities in calves. (gov.uk)
Defra reports that lower winter temperatures mean the risk of onward spread by midge vectors in south‑east England, East Anglia, the south‑west and the north‑east is now considered negligible. There remains a medium overall risk of virus incursion by all routes, while airborne incursion is currently assessed as negligible. Infection can still arise from previously infected midges or infected germinal products. (gov.uk)
Control measures remain national in scope. The whole of England continues to operate as a bluetongue restricted zone, allowing animal movements within England without a bluetongue‑specific licence or pre‑movement testing. Freezing semen, ova or embryos requires a specific licence and mandatory testing; record‑keeping and designation rules apply as set out in the legal declaration. (gov.uk)
The Welsh Government’s all‑Wales restricted zone, introduced at 00:01 on 10 November 2025, continues. Movements of livestock between England and Wales no longer require bluetongue vaccination or mitigation measures, but testing of donor animals remains necessary before freezing and marketing germinal products. (gov.uk)
For movements beyond England, Defra and APHA provide general licences to move animals or germinal product from the restricted zone to Scotland or Wales, with conditions that must be met and documents that must accompany consignments. DAERA permits certain movements to Great Britain from outside Northern Ireland’s Temporary Control Zone under its own licensing arrangements. Operators should always use the latest licence versions. (gov.uk)
Vaccination against BTV‑3 is available in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, subject to national licensing conditions. Defra and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate list three authorised BTV‑3 vaccines and set out reporting and professional guidance for vets, with trade restrictions continuing to apply to vaccinated animals. (gov.uk)
Artificial breeding centres, embryo collection teams and keepers undertaking on‑farm freezing should plan around the post‑collection testing regime. Current guidance requires donor testing by PCR 6 to 28 days after collection or by ELISA 28 to 60 days after collection, with repeat testing during extended collection periods and a prohibition on use until negative results are confirmed. Keepers fund sampling, postage and laboratory testing. (gov.uk)
Core movement rules and identification duties remain in force. Movements within England must comply with the relevant general licence and standard identification, registration and record‑keeping requirements. Suspect disease must be reported to APHA without delay; Defra provides practical materials on clinical signs and biosecurity to support on‑farm decision‑making. (gov.uk)
Operational resources include Defra’s interactive restricted‑zone map and case map, plus recorded webinars, leaflets and posters for keepers and vets. Defra’s Bluetongue: disease control framework in England sets the statutory approach. Historically, the first BTV‑3 case of the 2025–26 vector season was on 11 July 2025, following 163 confirmed cases from August 2024 to May 2025, and 126 BTV‑3 cases in 2023–24; the last major UK outbreak before these involved BTV‑8 in 2007–08. (gov.uk)