Bluetongue Update – Increased Cases and Livestock Movement Restrictions 

There has been a significant increase in confirmed and suspected cases of Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) across Great Britain in recent weeks, and livestock producers are being urged to remain vigilant. 

As of 1 September 2026, there have been 754 confirmed BTV-3 cases in the UK during the 2026–27 bluetongue season, comprising 664 cases in England, 73 in Wales and 17 in Scotland. There are also more than 2,200 potential cases currently under investigation. The greatest concentration of confirmed cases remains in the south-west of England, particularly Devon and Cornwall, although cases have now been identified across a much wider geographical area, including Wales and Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. 

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease affecting ruminants including cattle, sheep, goats and deer, as well as camelids such as llamas and alpacas. It is primarily transmitted by biting midges and does not affect people or food safety. Farmers are being urged to report the disease to enable accurate tracking of the virus across the UK and help inform how government entities respond to it. You can find out how to report it here. 

Warrendale is also running a webinar on the subject called Getting your head around Bluetongue: your questions answered on 9 September at 19:00. To register click here.

Current Restricted Zones 

The whole of England and Wales is currently within a Bluetongue Restricted Zone (BTV RZ). Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are also BTV Restricted Zones. 

 

Scotland 

Scotland has seen the most recent changes: 

On 21 August a Temporary Control Zone was put in place in an area around Dumfries and Galloway as a precautionary measure while further investigations are conducted on the source and extent of the disease. 

• Scotland remains subject to additional controls intended to reduce the risk of infected animals being moved into the country. from 22 August 2026 the ‘4 day’ rule for Scottish animals attending a show/sale in a RZ area is suspended, this condition is replaced by a ‘1 day’ rule meaning animals must travel to and from a RZ area in a single day, and must be unloaded after sunrise and loaded before sunset 

• from 10 September 2026, all BTV susceptible animal traveling from a RZ area to Scotland, to live, must be vaccinated for BTV-3, any BTV-3 vaccine product is acceptable. Only cattle vaccinated with Bultavo-3 would be exempt from any testing requirements. This position will remain under constant review 

• On 28 August, the Scottish Government announced that there was a relaxing of the restrictions within the Dumfries and Galloway area, whereby store, fattening and non-pregnant female animals will no longer need to be vaccinated to move from the TCZ to the disease free area of Scotland. However, some breeding animals will still require vaccination and testing before leaving the zone.

 The current Scottish active-season control period runs from 1 June to 9 September 2026, although these dates may be changed depending on weather conditions and the developing disease situation. Please check the ScotGov website for the latest restrictions and news. 

 

 

England 

The whole of England is currently a Bluetongue Restricted Zone. 

Animals can generally be moved within England without a specific bluetongue movement licence or pre-movement BTV test, subject to compliance with the relevant general licence and normal livestock movement requirements. 

This includes movements to farms, markets, shows and slaughterhouses within the English Restricted Zone. 

Animals showing possible clinical signs of bluetongue must not be moved, and suspected disease must be reported immediately. 

Additional restrictions apply to the collection, freezing, storage and movement of germinal products, including semen, ova and embryos. 

Movements from England into Scotland are subject to the separate Scottish entry requirements detailed below. 

 

Wales 

The whole of Wales has been a Bluetongue Restricted Zone since 10 November 2025. 

Livestock can generally move within Wales without a specific BTV licence or pre-movement testing, subject to the conditions of the applicable general licences and normal livestock movement rules. 

Because England and Wales are both Restricted Zones, livestock movements between England and Wales do not currently require bluetongue vaccination or other BTV mitigation measures solely because of crossing the English/Welsh border. 

Restrictions remain in place for germinal products, including requirements associated with testing donor animals before freezing and marketing germinal products. 

Movements from Wales into Scotland are subject to the Scottish entry requirements. 

 

Moving Animals from England or Wales to Scotland 

Producers should take particular care when purchasing or moving animals into Scotland. 

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man are BTV Restricted Zones. Any movement of bluetongue-susceptible animals from a Restricted Zone to Scotland must comply with the conditions of General Licence EXD608(EW) where applicable. 

These requirements apply not only to permanent farm-to-farm movements but also to animals entering Scotland for shows, markets, sales and other gatherings, including temporary movements. 

 

For animals moving from England or Wales to live in Scotland, the requirements generally include: 

• Sheep, goats, camelids and other susceptible ruminants: a pre-movement BTV test is generally required. During the current control period, samples must be taken within 7 calendar days of the movement, with the required negative result obtained before movement. 

• Unvaccinated cattle, and cattle vaccinated with BTV-3 vaccines other than qualifying Bultavo-3 vaccination, generally require pre-movement testing. 

• Qualifying cattle vaccinated with Bultavo-3 can move without the normal PCR/ELISA pre-movement testing requirement where the vaccination conditions of EXD608(EW) are met. This includes at least 21 days having elapsed since completion of the primary vaccination course and an appropriate booster where required. 

• The relevant EXD645 form pack and supporting test and/or vaccination evidence must be completed as applicable. 

• Details and supporting evidence must be logged through the APHA licensing portal. 

• The appropriate licence documentation and supporting evidence must accompany the animals during movement. 

 

Animals cannot be moved to Scotland to live under this licence if they have been present on a premises with a confirmed bluetongue case during the previous six months, even where the individual animals subsequently return a negative test or, in the case of cattle, meet the vaccination requirements. 

Animals must also be inspected for clinical signs immediately before movement. If bluetongue is suspected, the movement must not proceed and the disease must be reported. 

 

Movements to Slaughter in Scotland 

Different arrangements apply to animals entering Scotland for immediate slaughter. 

These movements are covered by General Licence EXD603(EW) rather than EXD608(EW). 

Pre-movement BTV testing is not normally required, but animals must travel directly to a designated Scottish slaughterhouse after leaving the Restricted Zone and the conditions of the general licence must be followed. 

Producers and hauliers should therefore check that the intended slaughterhouse is currently designated before animals are dispatched. 

 

Scottish Animals Attending Markets or Shows in England or Wales 

Scottish producers taking susceptible animals to a market, sale or show within a Restricted Zone also need to consider the requirements for bringing those animals back into Scotland. 

Animals returning to Scotland within four days do not require a pre-movement test before entering the show or market, although post-movement PCR testing following their return to Scotland is recommended. 

If animals remain within the Restricted Zone for more than four days, they become subject to the normal conditions applying to animals moving from a Restricted Zone into Scotland and will generally require the relevant testing and documentation before returning. 

Qualifying cattle fully vaccinated with Bultavo-3 may be exempt from the PCR/ELISA testing requirements where the conditions of the general licence are met. 

 

Markets, Sales and Shows 

Anyone buying animals at a market or sale in England or Wales for movement to Scotland should establish before purchase whether those animals are eligible to enter Scotland. 

The relevant testing, vaccination and documentation requirements cannot simply be dealt with after animals arrive at the Scottish destination. 

Where animals move through a sale, show or collection centre, the operator may also be required to check and endorse the relevant EXD608(EW) documentation. 

Purchasers should therefore discuss requirements with the auctioneer, vendor, haulier and their veterinary surgeon before committing to a movement. 

 

Clinical Signs and Reporting 

All livestock keepers should remain alert for signs consistent with bluetongue. Signs can vary considerably between species and individual animals but can include fever, lethargy, swelling of the head or muzzle, mouth lesions, excessive salivation, nasal discharge, lameness and reproductive problems. Sheep can be particularly severely affected. 

 

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported immediately and any infected or animals suspected of being infected must not be moved. 

 

Vaccination and Farm Risk Management 

Vaccination remains an important tool for reducing the impact of BTV-3, but producers should be aware that vaccination and movement-licensing requirements are not necessarily the same thing. A vaccination that provides protection to an animal does not automatically make that animal eligible for every cross-border movement. 

Requirements also differ according to species, vaccine used, vaccination dates, destination and purpose of movement. 

Warrendale strongly recommends that all producers discuss the risks as they apply to their individual farm with their veterinary surgeon. This should include consideration of vaccination, purchased-stock policy, movements to markets and shows, breeding stock movements, biosecurity, and the potential consequences of bringing animals into or out of a Restricted Zone. 

The disease situation and movement controls are developing rapidly. Always check the latest official guidance before arranging or undertaking a livestock movement, particularly where animals are moving into Scotland. 

 

How to get help.

We realise that Bluetongue and its affect on livestock can be difficult to deal with. If you need help, reach out to RABI. You can find information here. Feel free to also contact your Warrendale representative.

 

Further information 

GOV.UK – Bluetongue: latest situation 

Scottish Government – Bluetongue movement restrictions 

Welsh Government – Bluetongue current restrictions 

AHDB – Bluetongue latest information 

The latest case map from the UK Government is here.

 

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