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There has been a concerning rise in Bluetongue (BTV) cases in sheep and cattle in England and Wales, especially in the South West, with a case now also identified in Scotland. Our members are reporting more severe clinical signs and higher mortality rates in affected animals than in previous years.

We know that farm vets are working hard to support farmers and animals affected by this outbreak, during what is an extremely difficult time for all involved. If you feel you or a colleague need support at this time, please reach out to .

Continued vigilance to identify disease early is vital and vaccination remains the best way of protecting animals from this disease. Access to BTV vaccines is challenging for practices at present, with some operating waiting lists, so we encourage you to discuss vaccination options with clients as soon as possible. We are in touch with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for updates on vaccine availability.

For information on the latest disease situation and reporting, see:

The British Cattle Veterinary Association, Sheep Veterinary Society, Goat Veterinary Society and the Ruminant Health and Welfare Group have all provided excellent resources to support farm vets. You can find links to helpful BTV resources below:

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Update 14/08/2026

The Ruminant Health and Welfare Group, of which we are a member, has issued new , which includes advice around using the cascade to import BTV-3 vaccines if a suitable authorised vaccine is not available in Great Britain.

Update 21/08/2026

With the large volumes of samples currently being sent for bluetongue testing, incorrectly packaged or labelled parcels are causing processing delays. is reminding all farm vets to follow the packing and labelling guidance below to help speed up the process: 

• a leak-proof primary receptacle holding the sample
• a leak-proof secondary container such as a biobottle (with absorbent material)
• an outer packaging of adequate strength for its capacity, mass and intended use
• secure the submission form firmly on the outside of the parcel in a plastic wallet or waterproof equivalent (such as a sealed sandwich bag). If there are multiple submissions in one parcel, we recommend numbering the submission form and the corresponding biobottle so they are easily matched up
• label the parcel as appropriate with ERZ, WRZ or licence move as appropriate
• label the parcel with the county or postcode of the sampled farm.

More detailed information can be found on .