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Publication - Advice and guidance

Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease

Last updated
8 September 2026 - see all updates
Directorate
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural

Advice on what to do if you suspect there is an outbreak of this infectious disease.

Part of

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Latest situation

A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is in place in south west Scotland. Find out what you need to do if you're affected. 

From 10 September 2026 the TCZ in Scotland will become a Restricted Zone (RZ). Movement restrictions for animals moving to the free area of Scotland will change, but from 10 September all movements from any RZ area (Scotland/England/Wales) will be the same.

Bluetongue (BTV-3) cases in Scotland

Species

BTV-3 animals confirmed

Sheep (including ewes, rams and lambs)

15

Cattle (including cows, heifers and calves)

64

There are 20 confirmed affected holdings in Scotland. They are: 

  • 4 September 2026: near Gatehouse of Fleet
  • 2 September 2026: near Gretna
  • 1 September 2026: near Lockerbie
  • 1 September 2026: near Dumfries
  • 28 August 2026: Kirkcudbright
  • 28 August 2026: near Dalbeattie
  • 28 August 2026: near Annan
  • 28 August 2026: Newton Stewart
  • 27 August 2026: near Canonbie
  • 27 August 2026: near Twynholm 
  • 25 August 2026: near Kirkcudbright
  • 25 August 2026: near Lockerbie

  • 23 August 2026: near Dalbeattie 

  • 21 August 2026: near Kirkcudbright 

  • 21 August 2026: near Castle Douglas 

  • 19 August 2026: near Lockerbie 

  • 14 August 2026: near Newton Stewart 

  • 14 August 2026: near Newton Stewart 

  • 12 August 2026: near Newton Stewart 

  • 8 August 2026: near Newton Stewart 

The bluetongue case map shows the location of premises where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR for bluetongue. 

The first cases of BTV-3 in the 2026 to 2027 outbreak season were confirmed in: 

  • England on 10 July 2026 

  • Scotland on 8 August 2026 

For information on BTV case numbers see Gov.uk Bluetongue latest information.

BTV-3 control strategy changes

From 10 September 2026:

  • the Temporary control zone (TCZ) in Scotland will become a Restricted Zone (RZ). Some conditions to move animals from the RZ to the free area of Scotland are being relaxed
  • new movement licences will be published from 10 September   
  • breeding bulls and pregnant cows will require a PCR test, if leaving a RZ and moving to the free area of Scotland (unless vaccinated with bultavo-3)
  • all other bovines, ovine or caprine species do not require vaccination or a PCR test to leave a RZ
  • there will be no bluetongue controls on the movement of animals moving between RZs of England/Wales/Ireland
  • movements from Northern Ireland require a DAERA export health certificate which includes specific bluetongue attestations that mirror controls from other RZ areas in the UK. Movement to NI is not permitted
  • cattle that have completed a vaccination course using the Bultavo-3 vaccine - with 21 days elapsing since completion of the primary course, and have received a vaccine booster if 12 months have elapsed since completion of primary course – are exempt from any pre-movement test requirement
  • pregnant cows and heifers can be exempted from pre-movement testing if they have had a full vaccination course of Bultavo-3 prior to the start of this gestation
  • stags, adult male camelids and pregnant deer and pregnant camelids will require pre-movement testing and are advised to consider vaccination in consultation with their private veterinary surgeon    

What to report and current rules

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. It affects cattle, sheep, and goats among other ruminants. If you suspect your animals are affected you must immediately notify your local APHA office. Failure to do so is an offence.

Vaccination is the best measure to protect animals from the worst effects of the disease. Refer to the other sections of this guide and supporting documents for more information on clinical signs.

Movement controls are currently in place for susceptible animals and germinal products moving from bluetongue Restricted Zones (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man). We expect these controls to remain until at least 9 September 2026, after which controls will reduce as temperatures gradually reduce, decreasing the risk of transmission in Scotland through the midge vector.

Europe 

Bluetongue has been reported in several European countries.  

See the current outbreak assessments and the map of Restricted Zones in place across Europe for more detail. 

The rules mean: 

  • you cannot currently trade live ruminant animals from Great Britain to the EU 
  • you cannot currently move live ruminant animals to Northern Ireland 
  • movements from other parts of the UK to Scotland are subject to conditions 

Speak to your vet about the risks of importing stock from countries affected by bluetongue. 

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.

First published
29 October 2018
Last updated
8 September 2026 - show all updates

  1. Additional minor updates to latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  2. Updates to latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  3. Updates to latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  4. Updated latest situation and current movement restrictions pages.

  5. Case numbers updated and new affected holding announced.

  6. Current case numbers updated.

  7. Reviewed and TCZ licences updated.

  8. Time changed regarding pre-movement tests from 00:01 on September 9 to 23:59.

  9. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  10. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  11. Updated latest situations and movement controls pages due to changes from 10 September.

  12. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  13. Addition of abattoir 1160 and EXD677 in placed in both moves to live and slaughter section

  14. Updated made to movement restrictions section.

  15. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  16. Minor update to 'how to complete an EXD645 pro forma' section on movement restrictions page.

  17. Updated movement controls to include controls in place from 10 September.

  18. Updated total cases and list of affected holdings.

  19. Updated total cases and changes made to movement restrictions for animals.

  20. Updates made to movement conditions within a temporary control zone, total number of cases and movement controls.

  21. Update made to movement conditions within a temporary control zone.

  22. Updated made to movement restrictions section.

  23. Latest situation updated with current cases and TCZ information.

  24. Several updates made to include latest situation section, update on movement restrictions and controls in place.

  25. Current situation updated.

  26. Current situation updated.

  27. Current situation and overview updated.

  28. Current situation updated following single positive case detected in Scotland.

  29. Update to the Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals and germinal products (licensing) page.

  30. Updates to overview and movement restrictions pages.

  31. Updated movement restriction and importing from affected countries pages.

  32. Revised layout of the movement controls page to make it clearer to follow.

  33. Licensing section updated on Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals and germinal products (licensing) page.

  34. Updated movement restrictions page and archived movement restrictions from 1 June page.

  35. Updates to movement restrictions page from 1 June 2026 to include license information and links.

  36. Changes made to movement restrictions page from 1 June 2026 to include information about adjustments for new licensing process under general license.

  37. Created new page for movement restrictions from 1 June 2026.

  38. Updates to overview and movement restrictions sections to include movement restrictions from 1 June 2026 to 9 September 2026.

  39. Minor text updates to overview and movement restrictions sections.

  40. Minor text updates to overview and movement restrictions sections.

  41. Update to overview and movement restrictions section to reflect current situation.

  42. Licence details and links updated on overview and movement restrictions pages.

  43. Minor text update made to bluetongue movement restrictions section.

  44. Updates to overview and bluetongue movement restrictions sections.

  45. Updates to overview page.

  46. Bluetongue movement restrictions section updated.

  47. Guide updated to reflect rule changes.

  48. Update to germinal products on Bluetongue movement restrictions page.

  49. Text on specified sales in the restricted zone added to Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals (licensing).

  50. Updates to movement restrictions page.

  51. Added non-compliance info.

  52. Update to germinal products on Bluetongue movement restrictions page.

  53. Added further details on germinal products and Restricted Zones.

  54. Added further details to the movement restrictions page.

  55. Updates to movement restrictions page.

  56. Additional regions added to designated slaughterhouses.

  57. Added links to licensing forms on gov.uk.

  58. Various updates to licensing page, now Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals page.

  59. Updates made to licensing page.

  60. Updates made to the licensing section.

  61. Updates made to licensing page.

  62. Updated information relating to current situation and licensing.

  63. Added advisory note for veterinarians prescribing BTV-3 inactivated vaccine.

  64. Updates made to licensing page.

  65. Current situation updated.

  66. Current situation updated.

  67. Updated to explain that BTV serotype 3 vaccines have been permitted for emergency use in Scotland.

  68. Updated section in how to control disease.

  69. Added link to clinical signs page.

  70. Updates made to licensing page.

  71. Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease

  72. Added link to Bluetongue webinar.

  73. Update to licensing section.

  74. Licensing page updated to include designated slaughterhouses section and minor text amend.

  75. Text updated to reflect latest situation and put into chaptered html pages.

  76. Clinical signs posters added as supporting documents and minor text updates.

  77. Page content updated to reflect latest situation.

  78. Leaflet removed pending update.

  79. Updated throughout with current situation.

  80. Current situation information updated.

  81. Leaflet added as supporting document.

  82. Updated with current situation.

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