Bluetongue cases surge to 942 farms as testing delays persist
Bluetongue virus cases have surged to 942 affected farms, with over 2,000 more suspected, as farmers face vaccine shortages and slow test results.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The bluetongue virus outbreak has now hit nearly 1,000 farms across Britain, with more than 2,000 suspected cases still awaiting test results. The disease, spread by midges, has been particularly severe in the southwest, but is spreading north. Farmers are facing vaccine shortages, slow test results, and the threat of long-term damage to breeding stock.
The virus, which affects sheep, cattle and other animals, causes lameness, lethargy, loss of appetite and can be fatal. In sheep showing severe clinical signs, mortality can reach 75%. The recent hot weather has extended the midge season and made the insects more effective vectors.
Farmers like Jim, who has farmed for 50 years near Bolton, have seen seven of his sheep die and more than 90 show symptoms. He won't be able to sell his rams this year and faces significant financial losses with no compensation. "There's no compensation. There's no nothing," he said.
Vaccination is available, but there are concerns about supply and timing. The UK's chief vet is urging farmers to order vaccine now, saying there is still time before the expected peak in late September and October. However, some farmers say the advice has come too late, and testing delays are hampering efforts to track the disease. The government says it is increasing the number of testing labs and working on an updated map.
The outbreak is also raising wider questions about climate change and food security. Farmers are struggling to keep pace with changing conditions, and the disease is adding to pressures on an already challenged industry.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | Channel 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetongue cases are concentrated in the southwest of England, with 46 confirmed in Somerset and one each in Dorset and Wiltshire. | · | ||
| Confirmed bluetongue cases are counted per farm, with reported totals ranging from 630 to 942. | · | ||
| Confirmed bluetongue cases were reported, with a total of 630 and regional breakdowns including 46 in Somerset. | · | ||
| The number of pending bluetongue cases awaiting test results was reported as between 2,000 and 2,500. | · | ||
| A similar outbreak in the Netherlands killed about 4% of the total flock, with some farms seeing mortality rates between 10% and 40%. | · | · | |
| Almost 2,500 bluetongue cases are pending testing, suggesting the true scale is larger than the official count. | · | · | |
| Bluetongue has a reported mortality rate of up to 75% in sheep with severe clinical signs. | · | · | |
| Bluetongue virus has spread northwards due to climate change, bringing midges to the UK. | · | · | |
| Farmers face delays of more than nine days in animal testing due to an overwhelmed laboratory. | · | · | |
| Symptoms of bluetongue in sheep vary, making detection difficult and resembling foot and mouth disease. | · | · | |
| The bluetongue virus can reduce fertility in breeding rams, with potential loss of lambing next year. | · | · | |
| The first case of bluetongue this year was confirmed on 10 July. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 5's coverage centred on the human and practical impact on farmers, featuring interviews with a Devon sheep farmer and a Bolton farmer. It highlighted the emotional toll, the lack of compensation, and the logistical challenges of vaccination and testing, while also giving the latest national figures.
- “The trouble is that means it's a disease that farmers are not familiar with.”
- “There's no compensation. There's no nothing.”
- “A bit heart breaking, disappointing and sad because I try to breed quality sheep and this has come along and destroyed some of them.”
BBC ONE West focused on the official government response, particularly the chief vet's advice to vaccinate and the regional case numbers in the West Country. It reported the number of confirmed cases in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire, and noted farmers' concerns that the advice was too little, too late.
- “We are expecting a peak into late September, October. There is still time to vaccinate and protect your animals.”
- “Please order it. There is vaccine in the system.”
- “Farmers have raised concerns, though, that the government's advice is too little, too late.”
Channel 4's report from Exeter examined the scale of the outbreak, highlighting that official case numbers undercount the true spread because only a few animals per farm are tested. It also focused on the impact on breeding and fertility, the role of climate change, and the frustration over slow test results.
- “The official government count of blue tongue cases currently stands at 630, but each case isn't an animal, it's a farm and on each farm, a maximum of only three animals have been tested.”
- “It's frustrating to see that the results are coming back so slowly. It means that the map that shows the cases is very much out of date.”
- “This was the summer that seemed to portend what our changing climate has in store.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.