Officials are urging farmers to discuss BTV-3 vaccination with their vet as the number of confirmed premises continues to rise
Bluetongue has now been confirmed on more than 1,400 premises across Great Britain, while more than 1,600 potential cases remain under investigation as the outbreak continues to expand.
England accounts for 1,232 confirmed premises, alongside 138 in Wales and 31 in Scotland, bringing the Great Britain total to 1,401, according to the latest update published on 19 September.
The 1,616 additional reports are not confirmed infections. They involve premises where suspicious clinical signs have been reported but where investigations remain ongoing and keepers have not yet received results.
The pace of new confirmations remains high, with 64 additional premises confirmed in England on 16 September alone.
Those cases were spread across 14 counties, highlighting the increasingly widespread nature of the outbreak as livestock producers move further into the autumn.
England remains the centre of the outbreak, with more than 600 confirmed premises in Devon, followed by 178 in Cornwall and 98 in Somerset.
Wales has now recorded 138 affected premises, while Scotland has confirmed 31, the vast majority of them in Dumfries and Galloway.
Most confirmed infections continue to involve sheep and cattle, although cases during the current season have also been identified in alpacas, llamas and goats.
Defra has cautioned that the number of individual animals affected is likely to be considerably higher than the premises total, as not every animal on an infected holding will necessarily be tested.
The continuing rise comes at a sensitive point in the livestock calendar, with sheep producers entering the tupping period and cattle businesses managing autumn movements, sales and housing decisions.
Bluetongue can affect fertility, animal performance and productivity, while disease controls and testing requirements can create additional practical and financial pressures for affected businesses.
The large number of outstanding investigations also comes as the government attempts to speed up the diagnosis of bluetongue cases.
Private vets in England can now diagnose the disease where clinical signs are sufficiently clear, with the Animal and Plant Health Agency subsequently confirming the case, reducing reliance on laboratory confirmation for every suspected infection.
An online reporting system has also been introduced to allow vets to notify suspect cases more quickly.
Deputy UK Chief Veterinary Officer Ele Brown said: “Bluetongue is widely circulating in England and our approach needs to keep pace.
“Private vets are well placed to recognise signs of the disease, and this change will mean farmers can get a diagnosis more quickly.
“Vaccination is the best tool available to help protect susceptible livestock, so I absolutely continue to urge farmers to speak to their vet about vaccinating their herd or flock.
“It takes time for immunity in vaccinated animals to build and it is best to have this conversation now.”
Bluetongue is a notifiable viral disease spread primarily by biting midges and can affect sheep, cattle and other ruminants.
Signs can include fever, swelling around the face and mouth, nasal discharge, mouth lesions, lameness, lethargy and reduced productivity, although symptoms vary between animals and species.
Livestock keepers are legally required to report suspected cases and are being urged to remain vigilant as infections continue to be detected across a widening geographical area.
Three BTV-3 vaccines are authorised for use in the UK and require a veterinary prescription.
Reporting requirements were also relaxed earlier this month, giving livestock keepers three days to report use of a BTV-3 vaccine rather than the previous 48-hour deadline.
Providing the individual identification numbers of vaccinated animals has also become optional.
With more than 1,600 potential cases still being investigated, the confirmed total could continue to rise as livestock producers head further into the autumn midge season.