Although you may be hearing less about Bluetongue (BTV), the virus certainly hasn’t gone away.
As of 2/2/2026, there have been 289 cases in the UK and Ireland since July 2025, with all cases in all regions bar Scotland.
There has been a total of 262 cases of BTV – 3 in England, 21 in Wales, 4 in Northern Ireland and 1 in Southern Ireland. There has been 1 case of BTV – 8 in the Southwest.
In January of this year there have been a total of 28 confirmed cases of BTV-3 spread across the Southwest, Southern, Central and Northern regions.
A number of these cases include animals born with congenital defects or cases where BTV has been identified as the cause of abortion.
A reminder in sheep that bluetongue can cause the following signs:
●ulcers and sore around the mouth and nose
●discharge from the nose and eyes
●swellings around the head and neck
●lameness/ inability to stand due to foot pain often associated with heat and swelling at the coronary band.
The mild, wet winter means we are likely to see the virus has overwintered and this could cause a resurgence in cases as we get into the spring and summer months.
If you vaccinated last year, I would not hesitate in recommending you do so again, if you are still undecided as to whether to vaccinate I would recommend the risk assessment template that can be found using the following link.
https://ruminanthw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BattleBluetongue-vaccine-decision-maker-tool-February-2025-.pdf
I understand the concerns surrounding the use of a new vaccine last season and there were a lot of myths surrounding its safety, but having used the vaccine for over a year now we as vets have a much better understanding of it.
●Timing for effective protection: Protective immunity develops approximately three weeks postvaccination. To ensure optimal protection, animals should ideally be fully vaccinated by early May, or at least three weeks before the onset of the anticipated risk period (typically early June).
●Vaccine safety and fertility: Evidence shows no indication that BTV vaccination adversely affects fertility in ewes or cows. In contrast, the reproductive impact of natural infection is substantial and clearly outweighs any theoretical risk associated with vaccination.
●Breeding management – ewes: To protect conception and early pregnancy, vaccination should be completed at least three weeks before rams are introduced to the flock.
●Use close to mating: There is no evidence that the vaccine itself affects fertility or pregnancy, and it may be safely administered to healthy rams and ewes up to the day before mating if required for disease control purposes.
●Early pregnancy considerations: As with any management intervention, unnecessary stress should be avoided in early gestation. Where possible, handling, nutritional changes and routine treatments (including vaccination) should be minimised during the first five weeks after mating.
● Duration of immunity and boosters: Manufacturers anticipate approximately 12 months of protection, although this is not yet formally stated on product datasheets. Annual boosters should be planned in line with recommended pre-risk-period timing.
●General vaccine risk profile: As with all viral vaccines, administration in early or late pregnancy should be considered carefully, but this is not a risk unique to BTV vaccines and does not indicate a specific fertility concern.
● Safety experience: Post-marketing experience indicates a strong safety – manufacturers report millions of doses administered with very low incidence of adverse events.
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