News RH&W BTV-3 announcements 2026

Latest Bluetongue Announcement April 26

latest Bluetongue BTV 3 update from Ruminant Health & Welfare

Total BTV cases 30/04/2026

There have been 337 cases of bluetongue in Great Britain in the 2025 to 2026 bluetongue season (since 1 July 2025).

In:

  • England, there have been 314 cases of bluetongue – including 303 cases of only BTV-3, 4 cases of only BTV-8 and 7 cases with both BTV-3 and BTV-8
  • Wales, there have been 23 cases of BTV-3

There have been no cases in Scotland.

The location of all premises in Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR for bluetongue serotype 3, serotype 8 or serotype 12 is available on the bluetongue case map.

There are 5 confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland.

April updates

21 April 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 21 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in East Sussex born with neurological signs and poor sucking reflex – post mortem examination revealed brain deformities, and 2 dummy calves were born in the same herd over the past 2 months
  • 1 calf in Derbyshire born with neurological signs and reduced sucking reflex

17 April 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 17 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 3 calves in Wiltshire – 2 born blind and one born with facial deformities
  • 1 calf in West Sussex born with neurological signs and reduced sucking reflex

14 April 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in England on 14 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Cornwall born blind with neurological signs

10 April 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in Wales on 10 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Powys with convulsions, star gazing and deafness – post mortem examination revealed brain cavitation

8 April 2026

One new case of BTV-3 was confirmed in England on 8 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Devon born with neurological signs and poor sucking reflex

1 April 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England on 1 April 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Gloucestershire born blind and little to no suck reflex
  • 1 cow in Cornwall tested following birth of 3 dummy calves in the same herd over the past 2 weeks – all died within 24 hours