Farmers across Cumbria, Lancashire and Cheshire are being told to keep bluetongue front‑of‑mind this week. Defra’s latest update, published on 6 February 2026, confirms country‑wide restricted zones remain in place for England and Wales. Since July 2025, Great Britain has logged 288 cases: 267 in England (mostly BTV‑3, plus one BTV‑8 and seven mixed), and 21 in Wales. Scotland remains clear. Northern Ireland has five confirmed BTV‑3‑positive premises. (gov.uk)

Recent confirmations show why northern herds are staying vigilant. On 5 February, two cows in Staffordshire returned positives after a run of abortions. Earlier in the week, a Cumbria case was picked up via IVF surveillance. Through January, Defra listed infected animals in Cheshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire, alongside cases further south. These have included aborted foetuses, dull or neurologically abnormal calves and milk drops in herds. (gov.uk)

Cold weather has curbed midge activity. Officials now assess the risk of onward spread by vectors as negligible in the south‑east, East Anglia, the south‑west and the north‑east. That does not eliminate danger entirely: infection can still result from midges already carrying the virus and from germinal products. The overall risk of new incursion from all routes is still rated ‘medium’, while airborne risk is negligible. (gov.uk)

Movements within England can continue without a bluetongue‑specific licence or pre‑movement testing so long as keepers meet the conditions of the general licence. APHA may issue specific licences where a holding is under restriction or an urgent welfare move is needed. Slaughterhouses do not need special designation during the low‑transmission period, and shows can proceed with APHA oversight if suspicion is ruled out. (gov.uk)

Cross‑border runs need a closer read of the paperwork. General licences exist to move animals or germinal product from the restricted zone in England to Scotland, to another restricted zone, or from designated premises to outside a zone. Keepers must meet all licence conditions, carry the latest version and check stock for signs before loading. (gov.uk)

Wales has been under an all‑Wales restricted zone since 00:01 on 10 November 2025. Premises‑level restrictions were lifted that day, and routine livestock movements between England and Wales no longer require bluetongue vaccination or mitigation measures. Testing of donor animals remains a requirement before freezing or marketing germinal products. (gov.uk)

Across the Irish Sea, DAERA confirms five infected premises near Portavogie, County Down, with temporary control zones still in place. Some movements are permitted under licence, with separate rules for farms inside or outside those TCZs. Northern buyers and sellers working with NI herds should check the latest DAERA notices and speak to their vet before arranging transport. (daera-ni.gov.uk)

Vaccination remains part of the toolkit. Three BTV‑3 vaccines - Bluevac‑3, Bultavo 3 and SYVAZUL BTV 3 - are authorised in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, used under the relevant national licence conditions. Trade restrictions still apply to vaccinated animals, and vets advise avoiding pre‑movement testing for seven days after vaccination to prevent interference with monitoring. (gov.uk)

Simple steps still matter. Defra and APHA advise sourcing stock responsibly, housing at peak midge times where possible, keeping hygiene tight and discussing vaccination with your vet ahead of spring. None of this replaces quick reporting: “Be vigilant for signs of bluetongue and report it,” the department says. (gov.uk)

For day‑to‑day decisions, keep an eye on Defra’s case map and the live restricted‑zone viewer before booking haulage, semen collection or embryo work. If you see suspicious signs, contact APHA immediately - the agency operates 24/7 for notifiable disease reports. (gov.uk)