BTV-3 announcement – 24/12/23
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 1 further case of bluetongue in a cow has been identified in the Sandwich Bay area in the TCZ.
The animal will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of cases in England to 35 infected animals on 18 premises. There is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue
BTV-3 announcement – 22/12/23
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 4 further cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified in the Sandwich Bay area in the TCZ. 3 of the cases are located on a new holding.
The animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of cases in England to 34 infected animals on 18 premises. There is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue
BTV-3 announcement – 21/12/23
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), 3 further cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a new holding in the Sandwich Bay area in the TCZ.
The animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of cases in England to 30 infected animals on 17 premises with 12 different keepers. There is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
BTV-3 announcement – 20/12/23
Update 2
Following active surveillance in the Norfolk Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further case of bluetongue in cattle has been identified. The keeper has been notified and the animal will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission.
The TCZ will not be extended, and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of cases in England to 27 infected animals on 16 premises with 11 different keepers. There is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
Update 1
Following active surveillance in the Norfolk Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 2 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified. The cattle were on 2 separate premises within the ownership of a single family business.
Following active surveillance in the Kent TCZ, a further infected animal has been detected on a premises near Sandwich in Kent.
All 3 animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The 2 TCZs will not be extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of cases in England to 26 infected animals on 15 premises with 10 different keepers. There is still no evidence that bluetongue virus is currently circulating in midges in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 18/12/23
Further bluetongue cases confirmed in Temporary Control Zone.
Further cases of BTV3 have been confirmed over the weekend within the existing Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) in Kent, however there has been a positive development that a designation has been confirmed for the ABP Guildford abattoir.
This is the first abattoir outside the TCZ to be able to accept animals for slaughter from the TCZ.
“Whether for welfare needs or to send to slaughter, if farmers need to move animals at all, we’d encourage them to apply now, even if you don’t know if a licence is available at this moment in time.”
Details regarding how to apply for a movement licence can be found on the following website: Bluetongue: apply for a specific movement licence – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
BTV-3 announcement – 17/12/23
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further case of bluetongue in a sheep has been identified on a new holding in the Sandwich Bay area in the TCZ.
The animal will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of cases to 23. There is currently still no evidence that bluetongue virus is circulating in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue disease control zone map.
BTV-3 announcement – 16/12/23
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 3 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified in the Sandwich Bay area from the same herd as the 5 positives confirmed yesterday on 15 December.
The holding is situated in the existing TCZ.
All 3 animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the zone.
This brings the total number of cases to 22 on 8 different holdings. There is currently still no evidence that bluetongue virus is circulating in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue disease control zone map.
BTV-3 announcement – 15/12/23
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 5 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a holding in the Sandwich Bay area.
The holding is situated in the existing TCZ.
All 5 animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. The TCZ is not being extended and movement restrictions continue to apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants in the TCZ.
This brings the total number of cases to 19 on 8 different holdings. There is currently still no evidence that bluetongue virus is circulating in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
Check if you’re in a zone on the bluetongue disease control zone map.
BTV-3 announcement – 14/12/23
Following active surveillance in the north-east Kent Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), a further 3 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a holding in the Sandwich Bay area. The holding is situated in the existing TCZ.
Guidance on ‘Importing animals from bluetongue affected countries‘ has also been updated.
BTV-3 announcement – 08/12/23
Following routine surveillance, a further 2 cases of bluetongue in cattle have been identified on a farm near Cantley, Broadland, Norfolk. A 10km temporary control zone (TCZ) has been declared around the premises and both animals will be humanely culled to minimise the risk of onward transmission. Movement restrictions apply to cattle, sheep and other ruminants.
This brings the total number of cases to 11 on 6 different premises. There is currently no evidence that bluetongue virus is circulating in Great Britain. Surveillance is ongoing.
BTV-3 announcement – 07/12/23
Following active surveillance in the temporary control zone (TCZ), a ninth case of bluetongue serotype 3 has been confirmed in a single sheep, on a mixed cattle and sheep farm in the existing TCZ. There is currently no evidence that there is circulating virus. Surveillance is ongoing.
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 06/12/23
Additional Bluetongue cases confirmed
Following active surveillance within the temporary control zone (TCZ), two further cases have been identified taking the total number of cases to seven. Both cases are linked to a holding with previously confirmed cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 27/11/23
Following active surveillance within the 10km temporary control zone (TCZ), a further four cases of bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) have been identified in cattle on two additional farms.
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 17/11/2
Farmers in and around the Temporary Control Zone (TCZ), can now access and call a dedicated bluetongue hotline to get advice or ask questions linked to the current situation.
- All farmers and keepers of animals can access the bluetongue hotline: 024 7771 0386
- NFU members can also access the CallFirst hotline: 0370 845 8458
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 17/11/23
Bluetongue surveillance in TCZ
Defra is working on developing policies for the movement of animals within the temporary control zone (TCZ) and we will update those affected regularly with advice as appropriate.
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 16/11/23
Advice on temporary control zone (TCZ)
Following confirmation of a case of the bluetongue virus new emerging strain (BTV-3) in a single cow on a farm near Canterbury, Kent, a temporary control zone (TCZ) has been instigated.
The 10km TCZ has been put in place surrounding the farm while the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) undertakes further investigations.
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 13/11/23
Bluetongue case confirmed in UK
A case of the new emerging strain of bluetongue virus (BTV-3) has been confirmed in a single cow on a farm near Canterbury, Kent, following routine surveillance by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
RH&W BTV-3 announcement – 11/10/23
Farmers urged to be beware, take action and be vigilant for new strain of bluetongue virus
Following reports of a new strain of bluetongue virus (BTV-3) emerging and spreading rapidly in the Netherlands, there is increasing concern about the situation and its proximity to the UK.