Worst bluetongue outbreak on record hits British farms as cases top 2,400

British farmers are enduring the worst bluetongue season on record, with the viral livestock disease spreading faster and farther north than ever before.

Defra has recorded 2,201 cases since the season began on 1 July — 1,103 of them in September alone — already surpassing the totals of the past three seasons combined in just three months, The Guardian reported. FarmingUK puts the latest UK-wide figure at 2,408 confirmed cases: 1,979 in England, 389 in Wales and 40 in Scotland, with none in Northern Ireland (https://www.farminguk.com/news/scotland-scraps-bluetongue-movement-licences-as-zone-goes-nationwide_69235.html).

Bluetongue, spread by biting midges, causes fever, ulcers and lameness in sheep and cattle and can be fatal. The BTV-3 strain currently circulating was first found in England in 2023, and the World Organisation for Animal Health links its march north to climate breakdown. The disease has reached Scotland for the first time this summer and been found as far north as Aberdeenshire. It does not affect people or food safety.

Scotland will scrap bluetongue movement licence requirements from Saturday as the restricted zone expands nationwide following dozens of confirmed cases, after discussions with NFU Scotland, the National Sheep Association, the Scottish Beef Association and livestock market bodies. Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie called it a practical response that would reduce the administrative burden on farmers, hauliers and livestock markets. But animals showing clinical signs must not be moved, and affected livestock will be restricted to their premises for 60 days.

NFU vice-president Robyn Munt said farmers faced “constant vigilance”, with vaccines “really challenging” to obtain through a demand-led process — adding cost pressure to businesses already battered by drought.