Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease
Advice on what to do if you suspect there is an outbreak of this infectious disease.
How to control the disease
You can help to prevent the disease by:
- vaccinating your animals with a suitable authorised vaccine
- responsibly sourcing livestock
- practising good biosecurity on your premises
- remaining vigilant
If you import animals, speak to your vet before you decide to import them. Livestock keepers in high-risk counties in England can get free bluetongue testing for their animals – you may wish to consider this when moving animals to Scotland from high-risk counties in England.
If bluetongue is confirmed and found to be circulating, APHA will place movement restrictions in zones around the infected premises. Further details on actions taken in the event of an outbreak of bluetongue are described in the contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases and the GB Bluetongue Virus Disease Control Strategy.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity is about being aware of the ways disease can spread and taking every practical measure to minimise the risk of disease spreading. The advice details practical things you can do on your farm to help prevent the introduction and spread of bluetongue to and from your animals.
BTV-3 Vaccination
BTV serotype 3 vaccines have been permitted for emergency use in Scotland.
Vaccination for other bluetongue virus serotypes
Vaccination is the best way to protect animals from bluetongue virus serotypes 1, 2, 4 and 8. You should discuss with your vet whether vaccination would benefit your business. Read the advisory note for veterinarians prescribing BTV-3 inactivated vaccine in Scotland (PDF).
Chief Veterinary Officer Scotland, Sheila Voas, announced on 30 April 2025 that BTV serotype 3 vaccines can be used in Scotland to minimise the impacts of the disease in light of the outbreak in Great Britain. If you use a BTV-3 vaccine on your premises you should keep a record of this. For cattle, sheep and goats, the animal keeper is responsible for making and retaining an accurate record of vaccination and logging this on ScotEID. For other ruminants which are not cattle, sheep, or goats, the animal keeper must make a record of this using the online service to report the use of BTV vaccine.
You need to comply with the requirements of the declaration if you wish to vaccinate animals located outside a restricted zone for bluetongue.
For BTV-1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 vaccines, it can take up to six weeks for your animals to be fully immune, as your animals will require a period of time for immunity to develop following vaccination and may require two doses of the vaccine, three weeks apart.
Vets can apply to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for a Special Import Certificate (SIC).
The certificate allows keepers to import safe and effective bluetongue vaccine directly from the EU to vaccinate their stock.
Contact
If you suspect signs of any notifiable diseases, you must immediately notify your Scotland: field service local office at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Failure to do so is an offence.