Find out about Bluetongue Disease and where to get the latest updates.
Bluetongue is a disease of animals affecting all ruminants (including sheep, cattle, deer and goats) but not pigs, horses or dogs. It is caused by a virus spread by midges.
There is no risk to human health - the disease does not affect humans and there is no safety risk from food. Bluetongue is an animal disease and not a public health issue.
Latest Updates
Bluetongue disease is circulating in Europe. The whole of Great Britain is included in a Protection Zone. Vaccination is the only effective way to protect the welfare of livestock animals. All animal movement licence conditions for Bluetongue must be complied with.
For the latest updates on the current situation, go to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website, or telephone the DEFRA helpline on 08459 33 55 77.
The DEFRA website has:
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Advice for the public, farmers and landowners
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Interactive map of the Protection Zone
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Latest news releases
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About the disease and what the government is doing
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Leaflets and Factsheets to download
