OutbreakLens
Menu

OutbreakWeekly short

Bluetongue in Britain: 3,436 cases mapped

Figures as at 21 October 2026. A 97-second tour of the official case map and zone map, and what the restricted zone means for moving animals.

97 seconds, with on-screen captions. Plays from YouTube in privacy-enhanced mode.

Key numbers

  • 3,436cases confirmed in Great Britain since 10 July 2026. A case is a premises where bluetongue was confirmed.
  • 2,890in England
  • 492in Wales
  • 54in Scotland
  • 0in Northern Ireland
  • BTV-3where the serotype is known. No BTV-8 this season.
  • 3 Oct 2026Scotland joined the restricted zone. All of England, Wales and Scotland is now in it.
  • 56potential cases under investigation in Great Britain

Source: GOV.UK, Bluetongue: latest situation, updated 21 October 2026. Counts run to midnight on 20 October. The official case map updates separately.

What it means for keepers

  • You can move animals within England without a specific bluetongue licence or a pre-movement test.
  • Moves between England and Wales need no vaccination or extra measures.
  • In Scotland, check the movement controls and apply for a licence where you need one.
  • Midges have been active since 31 March 2026. In many parts of the UK it is still warm enough for the virus to develop inside them.
  • Watch for fever, a swollen head or muzzle, drooling and nasal discharge. Report suspicion to APHA. The phone numbers are on Bluetongue: how to spot and report it (opens in a new tab).
  • Defra has urged keepers to consider vaccination. Read the official BTV-3 vaccination guidance (opens in a new tab) and talk to your vet.
  • Daily counts show when a case was confirmed, not when the animal was infected.
  • Bluetongue does not affect people or food safety.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK, Bluetongue: latest situation (opens in a new tab), updated 21 October 2026
  2. GOV.UK, Bluetongue: how to spot and report it (opens in a new tab), updated 21 October 2026
  3. GOV.UK, Bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccination (opens in a new tab), updated 15 September 2026
  4. Defra, Livestock keepers urged to be on high alert and consider vaccination as Bluetongue cases rise (opens in a new tab), 14 August 2026
  5. APHA and Defra, bluetongue case map (linked from GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab), captured 22 October 2026
  6. APHA and Defra, bluetongue zone map (linked from GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab), captured 22 October 2026

Map stills in the video and on the cover. Case map: Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2026. Contains data from OS Zoomstack. Powered by Esri. Its heat map includes suspected cases. Zone map: Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2020.

OutbreakLens is an educational summary of public data, made in a personal capacity. It is not veterinary, trade or official advice, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government body. Always check the primary source.

Watch it elsewhere

YouTube (opens in a new tab)TikTok (opens in a new tab)Instagram (opens in a new tab)X (opens in a new tab)

Get the weekly email

One clear email a week: the key numbers, the map and what to watch. Free. Latest issue: Issue 1, from Friday 23 October 2026 (opens in a new tab).

Get the weekly emailAll shorts