Chronological coverage updated 11th September 2026 18:23.
Update 1 · 11th September 2026
Private Vets Granted Power to Diagnose Bluetongue Virus Direct on Farms
Private veterinarians will now be authorized to confirm diagnoses of bluetongue virus after physically examining affected livestock, eliminating the requirement to wait for laboratory test results under new rules announced by the government. The policy shift is designed to help agricultural workers take faster action to protect herds and flocks against the viral infection.
Bluetongue virus has been confirmed on 1,048 farms across the UK, with more than half of the recorded cases located in Devon and Cornwall..
Bluetongue is a viral disease affecting sheep, cattle, and other ruminants, primarily transmitted through midge bites. The current strain was introduced to south-west England via midges carried by wind currents from northern France, expanding rapidly after overwintering in local livestock populations.
BBC News reportedly quoted Ele Brown (UK deputy chief veterinary officer) as saying: “Bluetongue is widely circulating in England and our approach needs to keep pace.”.
Impact on the Farming Sector
Alongside the diagnosis rules, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched an online reporting platform for veterinarians and published an interactive map displaying confirmed and suspected cases. Officials continue to urge farmers to consult veterinary professionals regarding livestock vaccination, which remains the primary tool for disease mitigation.
Farmers in affected regions report significant livestock mortality and financial strain, with some flock owners losing up to 15 per cent of their animals or facing severe complications during lambing seasons. While welcoming faster diagnostic pathways, farming groups emphasized that government agencies must maintain rapid laboratory escalation capabilities whenever symptoms could suggest other notifiable animal diseases.
- Veterinarians can diagnose bluetongue on clinical evaluation to reduce delays in protecting livestock.
- Cases exceed 1,000 nationwide, heavily concentrated in Devon and Cornwall.
- Defra deployed new online mapping tools to track suspected outbreaks across affected regions.
