With recent news of the first Bluetongue virus cases now among sheep in Scotland, local livestock owners are being advised to be vigilant when they purchase animals during the Autumn sales.
Last week, the first cases of Bluetongue serotype (‘BTV-3’) in Scotland were confirmed at a small number of premises in Dumfries and Galloway. The disease can affect all ruminant mammals, including sheep, cattle and goats. Bluetongue is a notifiable animal disease – livestock owners must immediately report any suspected cases.
Spread primarily by biting midges, the disease has spread widely this summer across England and Wales, where over 450 cases have now been recorded. Almost 370 cases have been seen in Devon and Cornwall, where sheep have been severely affected and account for over 80% of the infected animals.
With the arrival of the disease in Scotland, the number of cases in the South of Scotland is expected to rise in the coming weeks. Currently the movement of susceptible animals into Scotland is controlled under license, though this is scheduled to end on 9th September 2026.
To reduce the risk of buying infected animals, livestock owners in Shetland are advised to purchase stock from as far north in Scotland as possible where the Bluetongue risk is currently low.
Bluetongue virus is spread by midges and is not spread directly between animals. For the virus to multiply, it requires a sustained temperature over 13 degrees and it can multiply more quickly in warmer temperatures. It is thought that higher temperatures seen in the repeated heatwaves in England and Wales this summer has reduced the incubation period for the virus in midges and contributed to the spread of the disease.
Most sheep are imported to Shetland in the cooler months of September or October, when the chances of local spread between midges are very much reduced. Imported sheep are also dipped on import which may provide some protection against resident midges biting and spreading disease.
There is currently no precautionary local testing available through the Shetland Animal Health Schemes for animals on import. Testing of animals with signs of Bluetongue disease would be carried out through APHA. All blood testing for Bluetongue virus is being carried out by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at The Pirbright Institute in Woking, Surrey. This service is being used primarily for report cases and license requests.
Bluetongue virus does not affect people or food safety, but it can cause a high rate of death in infected sheep and fertility problems in infected rams and bulls. Symptoms in sheep include swollen face, mouth ulcers, drooling, fever and lameness and in cattle signs tend to be less severe with crusty noses or teats, lameness, a decrease in milk production and diarrhoea.
Hilary Burgess MRCVS, Veterinary Advisor to Shetland Islands Council, said: “The best way to reduce chances of importing Bluetongue virus to Shetland is for livestock owners to be vigilant to the areas affected, and to source animals from the lowest risk areas of Scotland, which are likely to remain further north.
“Where possible, it is also wise to purchase vaccinated animals and it may be beneficial to vaccinate breeding stock if you intend to sell to a mainland buyer, dependent on vaccine availability. Orders for one of the Bluetongue vaccines can currently be placed by Shetland Vets and they are expecting information on possible delivery times shortly. Please keep in touch with your vet as this may change.”
“If you have any concerns about possible Bluetongue in your stock, please immediately speak to your vet.”
More details and the latest updates in Scotland can be found online at: www.gov.scot/bluetongue.
The independent public body the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) also has useful Bluetongue information at ahdb.org.uk/bluetongue