Bluetongue: how to spot and report it
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-01)

The signs of bluetongue virus, how you must report it and what happens when you do.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges.

Bluetongue virus affects:
- sheep
- cattle
- other ruminants such as deer and goats
- camelids such as llamas and alpacas
Rarely, bluetongue can affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material (such as aborted material and afterbirth).

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

Find out about current bluetongue cases, risk levels, vaccinations and restrictions (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bluetongue-latest-situation).

Signs of bluetongue

If you keep livestock, you must keep a close watch for and report any suspicion of bluetongue in your animals.

The severity of the infection depends on the type (serotype) of the virus and may also be affected by the strain.

In sheep

Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:
- ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
- discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth
- swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot)
Other clinical signs include:
- red skin as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface
- fever
- lameness
- breathing problems
- abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
- death
In lambs

Lambs can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the dam is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:
- lambs born small, weak, deformed or blind
- death of lambs within a few days of birth
- stillbirths
In cattle

Signs of bluetongue in cattle include:
- lethargy
- crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle
- redness of the mouth, eyes, nose
- reddening of the skin above the hoof
- nasal discharge
- reddening and erosions on the teats
- fever
- milk drop
- not eating
- abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
Adult cattle may be infectious for several weeks while showing little or no sign of disease. They are often the preferred host for biting midges (the vector of bluetongue virus).

In calves

Calves can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the mother is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:
- calves born small, weak, deformed or blind
- death of calves within a few days of birth
- stillbirths
Photos of signs of bluetongue

Credit: The Pirbright Institute.

A photo of a sheep with its mouth open showing a blue and swollen tongue.

Credit: The Pirbright Institute.

A photo of a sheep with its open mouth open showing ulcers on the gums.

There are more photos of clinical signs of bluetongue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/defragovuk/sets/72157666751049558/) on Flickr.

Report suspected bluetongue

If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling:
- xx-xxxx-xxxx in England
- xx-xxxx-xxxx in Wales
- your local Field Services Office (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/contact-apha#scotland-apha-field-services) in Scotland
Bluetongue is a notifiable disease (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/notifiable-diseases-in-animals). This means if you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.

What happens when you report bluetongue

When you contact APHA to report suspected bluetongue, a duty vet will discuss the situation with you, to determine if bluetongue can be ruled out.

If the vet cannot rule out bluetongue, they will decide whether an APHA investigation is needed. This comes down to whether:
- the affected animals are on a holding in the restricted zone (https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=514ec88edec74575958d860f0196d2ea)
- no other notifiable diseases are suspected
If both the above are true, APHA will not arrange an on-site investigation and will not restrict the premises or the affected animals. Instead, they will provide the caller with an authorisation code, allowing your private veterinary surgeon (PVS) to submit samples directly to the Pirbright Institute for bluetongue testing (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-free-bluetongue-testing-if-youre-in-a-bluetongue-zone). This will cover free testing for up to 3 affected animals. However, you will have to cover the costs of the sampling and postage.

If APHA have confirmed bluetongue on your holding, and the infection was acquired during the current bluetongue season (that is, in March 2025 or later), you will not be eligible for more free testing. However you can apply for free testing if you have new cases that are linked to past or congenital infections from the previous season (that is, before March 2025).

If you are not eligible for free testing, your PVS can still privately submit samples (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-free-bluetongue-testing-if-youre-in-a-bluetongue-zone#private-bluetongue-movement-testing) to the Pirbright Institute at the keeper’s cost.

APHA may also test the same samples for epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) if certain risk criteria are met. If we decide to test for EHDV, testing will be free, and we will inform you during the call.

If the test results are negative for bluetongue, the Pirbright Institute will communicate them directly to you.

If the test results are positive for bluetongue a duty vet from APHA will communicate the results to you. If the infection is bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3), the premises and animals will not be restricted. If we identify other serotypes, we may apply restrictions and other disease control measures.

All restriction notices issued to individual holdings and animals that were in place before 1 July 2025 will be lifted in due course from 1 July.

Preventing and controlling bluetongue

Find out how to prevent bluetongue and stop it spreading (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading).