“Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it if you suspect it,” Defra reminds farmers this week as a fresh BTV-3 case in Staffordshire was confirmed on Thursday 5 February. The official tally for the 2025 season now stands at 288 across Great Britain, with 267 in England and 21 in Wales; none have been detected in Scotland so far. Five infected premises have been confirmed in Northern Ireland. Defra’s interactive case map is live for anyone wanting to see where positives have been logged. (gov.uk)

For Northern readers the pattern has felt uncomfortably close to home since January: abortions and malformed calves reported in Staffordshire, clinical signs recorded in Cheshire, and positives linked to testing in Cumbria, Lancashire, Derbyshire and Shropshire. Down south, Devon has also seen aborted foetuses with brain abnormalities. While each farm story is different, vets say the theme is consistent - keep newborn checks tight and ring the practice early if anything looks off. (gov.uk)

Cold snaps have helped. Government scientists now judge the risk of onward spread by biting midges in the south-east, East Anglia, the south-west and the north-east as negligible for the moment, though infection can still occur from already infected midges or germinal products. Overall incursion risk remains at medium. (gov.uk)

Movement rules remain a live issue in England. The whole country sits inside a bluetongue Restricted Zone and an Infected Area declared from 1 July 2025. Movements within England don’t need a bluetongue licence unless animals show clinical signs on the day of travel, but taking animals or germinal products out of the zone requires the right licence. Crucially, no one may freeze semen, ova or embryos unless on designated premises or under a specific licence, with accurate records kept. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)

Wales has been under an all‑Wales restricted zone since 10 November 2025. Farmers can move stock within Wales without a specific bluetongue licence or pre‑movement tests, and cross‑border moves between the English and Welsh restricted zones are covered by a general licence as long as conditions are met. Premises‑level restriction notices were lifted when the national zone came in. (gov.wales)

Across the Irish Sea, DAERA confirmed a fifth infected premises near Portavogie, County Down, on 28 January. Temporary Control Zone arrangements continue there, with targeted support for pre‑movement testing announced in early January to help farmers and private vets manage risk and paperwork. (daera-ni.gov.uk)

What does this mean on the ground? For pedigree and dairy herds using AI or embryo transfer, plan well ahead: check licensing, schedule tests early, and keep auditable records so semen or embryos aren’t held up. For store and finished cattle, speak to your market in good time about any bluetongue paperwork so loads aren’t turned back on arrival. 

If you’re seeing abortions, dull or circling calves, swollen muzzles, nasal ulcers or unexplained lameness, call your vet and the APHA immediately. Quick samples help the authorities see the picture faster and protect neighbouring farms. As Defra puts it, “Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it.” (gov.uk)

One final practical: if winter fieldwork or shed moves are looming, pencil in a five‑minute check of the official maps before you load. The case map and zone guidance are refreshed regularly, and they’re the quickest way to confirm what rules apply to your postcode that day. (gov.uk)