Farmers warned of continuing rise in bluetongue (BTV-3) cases

Tuesday, 18 August 2026

Bluetongue virus (BTV-3) cases are continuing to rise across sheep flocks, dairy herds and beef herds across Great Britain and farmers are being reminded of the importance of speaking to their local vet to source vaccine and ensure livestock are protected.

With the peak of this year’s outbreak yet to come, we are hosting a number of meetings in England and Wales to allow levy payers the chance to hear from experts from across the industry and to receive timely practical information and support related to the disease.

Dr Mandy Nevel, AHDB Head of Animal Health and Welfare, said:

"For many farmers, the current outbreak is no longer a distant concern. It’s happening now, in livestock systems across the country, and we anticipate disease pressure could peak during September.

"Against this backdrop, vaccination remains the single most effective tool available to help protect vulnerable animals. I appreciate vaccination has been the subject of much discussion over recent weeks, with challenges around vaccine availability. Those concerns are understandable. Demand has increased significantly as the outbreak has expanded, creating pressure across the supply chain.

"Despite these difficulties, the key message remains clear: It is not too late to vaccinate."

Meeting details

The dates and locations of our bluetongue update meetings are:

You can book a place by clicking on the relevant link above. Spaces are limited and demand is expected to be high.

Latest case numbers

As of 17 August, there were 456 confirmed BTV-3 cases across the UK in the 2026 to 2027 season, with 439 cases in England.

Devon, Cornwall and Somerset remain the hardest hit, but confirmed cases now stretch as far north as Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and East Riding of Yorkshire.

There are also 13 confirmed cases in Wales and four in Scotland.

Prys Morgan, AHDB’s Beef and Lamb Director, said:

"Bluetongue doesn’t respect country or county boundaries, and neither does our support. Every beef, lamb and dairy farmer in England has AHDB support close by.

"We’re working with industry partners including the NFU, APHA, HCC (Meat Promotion Wales) and QMS (Quality Meat Scotland) in the best interests of all livestock across the UK, be that sheep, beef or dairy.

"This is an anxious time for a lot of farm businesses. Speak to your vet, get livestock vaccinated if you haven’t already, and don’t wait for clinical signs before finding out more."

AHDB’s Head of Dairy Engagement, Jamie McCoy, added:

"This is an extremely worrying and stressful time for farmers affected by the disease. AHDB is continuing to provide support and practical guidance to the industry.

"As well as AHDB’s regional managers, farmers can contact the AHDB Bluetongue virus hotline on 0247 771 0386. It is open Monday to Friday 09:00 BST to 17:00 BST or they can also visit the AHDB website for further information and advice."

Further information

Topics:

Livestock Health Disease

Sectors:

Beef & Lamb Dairy

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