The first case of bluetongue virus has been recorded in Scotland

The infection was detected in one sheep on a farm near Creetown. Following a decision by veterinary services, the livestock animal was euthanized, and quarantine restrictions were imposed on the farm premises. Currently, specialists are testing other susceptible livestock animals on the farm, with results expected in the near future.

Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Sheila Voas, noted that the virus was most likely introduced by insects. Current working hypotheses suggest that infected midges may have been carried by the wind from regions where the disease is already circulating, including the north of England, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the Isle of Man. Increased midge activity this season is linked to hot and humid weather.

Bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV3) is a notifiable disease that must be reported immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency. In the 2026/27 season, 289 cases of this disease were recorded in the UK, with the majority occurring in the southwest of England. The disease is transmitted by insects and affects cattle, sheep, and goats. Symptoms include nasal discharge, swelling and reddening of the muzzle, lameness, a drop in milk yield, and diarrhea. The virus poses no risk to humans or food safety, but it leads to high mortality in sheep and fertility problems in cattle.

Representatives of NFU Scotland have urged farmers, particularly in the southern part of the country, to vaccinate their livestock, as vaccination is recognized as the most effective method of prevention. The association also emphasized the need to determine the extent of the virus's spread, to implement measures for controlling animal movement, and for the potential establishment of disease control zones by the Scottish Government. At this stage, experts cannot say with certainty whether the virus is circulating throughout Scotland or if this is an isolated case.