First bluetongue cases of the season detected in County Down, Northern Ireland

The bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) has been detected in three sheep on a farm in County Down, Northern Ireland. These are the first cases of the season in the region. Bluetongue is a disease affecting ruminants such as sheep and cattle, and farmers are now on alert.

Andrew Muir, Northern Ireland's Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), said the finding was not unexpected given the spread of BTV-3 across Great Britain and Ireland this season. He called for continued vigilance, strict biosecurity and prompt reporting of any suspected disease to DAERA. He stressed that bluetongue poses no threat to public health or food safety, and that milk and meat are safe to consume.

Chief veterinary officer Brian Dooher urged farmers to be extra watchful for signs of the virus in their flocks and herds and to report suspect cases. Because BTV-3 was already confirmed in Northern Ireland in November 2025, further control measures such as movement restrictions and disease control zones will not be applied in response to this case. Active surveillance continues at abattoirs, alongside post-import testing of susceptible animals brought in from mainland EU countries. Dooher also underlined the importance of safe and responsible sourcing of animals.

Situation in Ireland

In Ireland, where the disease is more widespread, just over 100 bluetongue cases have been detected across 17 counties. The latest update from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine reported 94 cases in cattle and seven in sheep.

Michael O'Connell, chairperson of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association's livestock committee, said only about half of Ireland's mature breeding herds and flocks have been vaccinated. He urged farmers to be proactively vigilant amid a rising number of cases. As of late October, around four million BTV-3 vaccine doses had been supplied to private veterinary practitioners, but O'Connell said this was far from meeting the needs of all breeding stock. According to the Central Statistics Office, Ireland has 2.45 million dairy and suckler cows and 2.7 million breeding ewes.