20/07/2026
Bluetongue update 23.07.2026
We now have confirmed cases here on exmoor.
Look out for the signs!!!
On July 16th five new cases of BTV-3 were confirmed in England following reports of suspicious clinical signs. Since then more cases have been confirmed, at least one of them on Exmoor.
Over the last few days we have been seeing several animals with suspicious signs and after contacting the APHA we got permission to bloodtest these animals (the costs of the labortory test is covered by government funding. We are currently awaiting results.
The bluetongue virus is spread by midges. Following the recent warm weather, the temperatures became warm enough to allow for the virus to develop inside the midges, which can infect cattle, sheep and camelids when biting and sucking blood. Animals can also get infected through germinal products (semen, ova or embryos).
Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle. Typical symptoms are:
ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth, crusty plaques around mouth and nostrils
swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot) and redness of the skin in these areas
fever
lameness
breathing problems
abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths, weak lambs and early death
death
Signs of bluetongue in cattle include:
lethargy, fever, drop in milk production
crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle
redness of the mouth, eyes, nose
reddening of the skin above the hoof and the teats
nasal discharge
Adult cattle may be infectious for several weeks while showing little or no sign of disease. They are often the preferred host for biting midges (the vector of bluetongue virus).
Most of the information above has been copied from the government webpage. For more detailed facts and the latest updates please take a look at gov.uk bluetongue latest updates.
We at Dulverton recommend to vaccinate all cattle and sheep. Please ring the office if you wish to learn more about available vaccinations or if you think you might have an animal with symptoms that could be related to bluetonge infection. (01398 323285)
The team at Dulverton Vets
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