Bluetongue (sheep, cattle and goats)

About the disease

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease that affects:

• sheep
• cattle
• other ruminants such as goats

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in long animal movement and trade restrictions.

Bluetongue on GOV.UK

Symptoms

Symptoms of bluetongue disease include:

• fever
• tiredness 
• lameness
• swelling of the mouth, head and neck
• milk drop

Animals may take a long time to recover, never fully recover or die.

Bluetongue Risk Assessment

Protect livestock

Vaccination is the best way to protect animals from bluetongue.

Bluetongue declaration of manadtory vaccination

Bluetongue, caused by the Bluetongue Virus (BTV) and Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease, caused by the Epizootic Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (EHDV) have emerged in continental Europe and the UK as significant notifiable diseases transmissible through biting midges.

The situation in both France and the UK in 2024/25 has been concerning a total number of:

• 242 BTV3 (serotype 3) cases in Great Britain for the 2024 to 2025 vector season
• 10 498 BTV3 cases in France in 62 departments for the 2024 to 2025 vector season 
• 16 416 BTV8 (serotype 8) cases in France in 73 departments for the 2024 to 2025 vector season
• 3 853 outbreaks of Epizootic Haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) in France in 34 departments for the 2024 to 2025 vector season

It is known that midge species competent for the transmission of BTV and EHDV are present in Jersey and that Jersey has a range of air temperatures that facilitate transmission and replication of the virus in the midges making our island vulnerable to these diseases.

BTV3 and BTV8 affects cattle, sheep and goats, whilst EHDV mainly affects cattle.

To protect Jersey’s livestock health and welfare the Chief Veterinary Officer, on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, has decided to implement a mandatory vaccination of all susceptible stock for the above diseases.

Vaccines are currently being deployed to farms in  Jersey and can only be administered by licensed individual and under the conditions stipulated on the licence.

How the disease spreads

Bluetongue is spread by midges that bite the animal. It's passed from animal to midge, and midge to animal, but not animal to animal.

The disease can spread over a large area as midges fly or are blown in the winds.

We cannot do much to stop midges breeding. Keeping your livestock away from breeding sites, for example, poorly drained areas and dung heaps, may have a small effect in reducing exposure to the insects.