Bluetongue cases in Great Britain surge to 825 amid ongoing investigations

The number of suspected bluetongue premises and confirmed cases of serotype 3 continues to rise across Great Britain, prompting urgent calls for vaccine action amid policy concerns.

Great Britain now has 2,462 suspected bluetongue premises under investigation, while confirmed bluetongue serotype 3 cases have risen to 825 in the 2026-27 season, according to the latest update from Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. A case is counted as a premises with at least one positive animal.

Of the confirmed cases, 720 are in England, 85 in Wales, 20 in Scotland and none in Northern Ireland. No BTV-8 cases have been recorded this season. Defra says it will pay for diagnostic testing of up to three affected animals where suspicious clinical signs are reported.

The latest daily additions came on 2 September, with 26 new BTV-3 cases in England, three in Wales and one in Scotland’s Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish case detected through a pre-movement test. All but the Scottish case were identified after reports of clinical signs.

The disease remains a policy concern. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat MP, recently urged ministers in the Commons to treat bluetongue and vaccine delivery as urgent priorities. In response, the government said it was aware of concerns about vaccine availability and access, and would seek an update from Defra.