April 2025
Bluetongue
Farmers are being urged to consult their vet about vaccinating their herd or flock against Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) as part of a ‘battle bluetongue’ campaign which is now running across industry.
As there is no treatment for the disease, BTV-3 continues to pose a significant threat to both cattle, sheep, goats and camelids, with potential impacts on animal health, productivity, and trade. Therefore, slowing the disease spread through vaccination and restricted movements in affected areas remains the best defence.
The proactive campaign #BattleBluetongue has been developed by Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) in collaboration with key veterinary and industry associations.
The campaign is directing farmers to have proactive discussions with their vets to assess their risk to BTV-3.
By working through the new resource produced for the campaign with their vet - a vaccine decision maker tool - farmers can understand their BTV-3 risk to then defend their stock by vaccinating the right animals. Farmers are encouraged to develop farm specific battle plans with the aim to help increase the level of vaccination for high-risk stock to provide some level of defence against the disease on-farms.
Farmers are being encouraged to:
ASSESS YOUR RISK -
- Vets and farmers working together to evaluate the risk to BTV-3 on farms by using the ‘vaccine decision maker tool’ together
PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS –
- Safeguard businesses from restrictions by managing all identified risks that can be controlled on livestock holdings
DEFEND YOUR STOCK –
- Vaccinate the right animals for BTV-3 to reduce transmission and stop the spread
Download the latest farmer leaflet to find key disease information Bluetongue farmer leaflet - Jan 25
https://ruminanthw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Bluetongue-farmer-leaflet-Jan-25-1.pdf
Where is Bluetongue
The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain for the 2024 to 2025 vector season is 201. As temperatures start to increase throughout spring, the bluetongue risk will start to increase as midges start to become more active.
Bluetongue virus 3 is one of the most aggressive strains of the virus, the map to the right of Germany shows the outbreak of BTV3 they experienced from the start of July to September 2024.
You can see from these images how quickly BTV-3 spread in Germany. Now Bluetongue infection is established in the UK, experts and authorities are concerned it could spread, in a similar picture to Germany, this summer.
Here is a map of the current cases of bluetongue in England, the area in red is the area in the restriction zones.
Below are maps of livestock density in England. As you can see the area that the cases and restriction zones are in is the lesser livestock dense portion of England.
Experts and authorities are concerned that as the weather warms, and the midges become active again, bluetongue will likely spread to the livestock dense areas of England, which includes our area.
How is Bluetongue spread?
Bluetongue is spread either via midges that have been infected by biting an infected animal or via dirty needles.
Once infection is established within a country, which happened in the UK last autumn, movement of infected livestock into clear areas is important in the introduction of the virus to new areas of the country.
Signs of bluetongue in cattle and sheep:
· ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose, hypersalivation
· swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot), redness between the toes
· crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle
· redness of the mouth, eyes, nose
· abortion and poor fertility
· recumbency (lying down) and death
The signs are more severe in sheep than cattle and clinically effected animals have a fatality rate of up to 70%.
If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling 03000 200 301. To not do so is an offence.
It is extremely difficult to avoid midges, and only one midge bite is required for infection, therefore consideration of vaccination should be made by all livestock owners.
We know that insecticide treatments do not reduce the risk of bluetongue infection, so they cannot be relied upon to protect your stock.
Vaccination
In England and Wales, the Secretary of State has granted emergency permission for three bluetongue vaccines to be used in cattle and sheep under licence. The vaccines do not prevent the animal becoming infected but reduce deaths and the severity of clinical signs,
similar to COVD vaccination for us. In the Netherlands mortality in unvaccinated flocks was reported at 70%, and this dropped to 10% in vaccinated flocks.
Off licence use in goats or camelids should be discussed with one of our vets.
The decision to vaccinate should be done on a case-by-case basis, it is the decision of the individual and is not one size fits all. To assess your risk and need to vaccinate please contact one of our vets.
I’ve vaccinated – now what?
1. Written or digital records of animals vaccinated must be kept for 5 years
2. Animal keepers must provide details of individual animals vaccinated and vaccine used to Defra within 48 hours of vaccinating
3. Any excess doses must be returned to prescribing vet
Resources Bluetongue:
https://ruminanthw.org.uk/bluetongue-virus/battle-bluetongue-campaign-2025/
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bluetongue-virus-latest-situation-chief-vet-urges-vigilance
https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/bluetongue
If faced with challenges, there are several resources you can access and charities that you can contact for support. Please feel free to also call the practice for a chat.
Resources for mental health:
https://ahdb.org.uk/support-for-farmers
Farming Community Network helpline – 03000 111 999
RABI – 0800 188 4444
We Are Farming Minds – 0808 802 0070 / Text – 07786 203 130
Forage Aid – 01926 620135
Mind Charity – 0300 123 3393
Samaritans – 116 123