Bluetongue virus surge causes livestock losses in UK

A surge in Bluetongue serotype-3 (BTV-3) cases is causing significant losses among sheep and cattle, particularly in Southwest England. Veterinary professionals report that the disease is spreading rapidly, with some areas seeing nearly 130 holdings with clinical cases in a single month.

In response to the crisis, the AHDB has organized an industry webinar to assist farmers and veterinarians in identifying symptoms, reporting cases to the APHA, and implementing vaccination strategies. Farmers have noted the devastating speed of the spread, with many expressing that vaccination could have mitigated the impact.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has also called on the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to take urgent action to protect vulnerable livestock. The RBST reports that vaccination levels among rare breeds are critically low, with some groups seeing coverage below 20%. The organization is urging the government to ensure vaccine manufacturers produce smaller consignments and to provide official guidance for vets to facilitate safe, legal vaccine sharing to protect genetic diversity in UK livestock.