Bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 3 has been confirmed on two premises in Wales, the country’s devolved government has said.
The Welsh Government confirmed that bluetongue serotype 3 has been identified at one premises in Monmouthshire and another in Powys.
Both of these areas border England, where there are ongoing outbreaks of bluetongue.
These are the first cases in Wales in about a year.
The Welsh government did not specify in which species of animals the cases were confirmed.
In a statement to Agriland, a spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “We’ve been working hard to keep bluetongue out of Wales and it’s been nearly a year since our last confirmed case. We are keeping our bluetongue policy under regular review based on emerging evidence.
“We urge livestock keepers to continue to be vigilant, follow stringent biosecurity measures and to practice safe sourcing of livestock,” the spokesperson added.
Farmers in Wales are being asked to speak with their vets about bluetongue, including about vaccination, and to report suspected cases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Bluetongue is a exotic viral disease caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) which can cause severe clinical signs in ruminant species, such as cattle, sheep and goats, along with camelids.
The virus, which does not pose a risk to human health or food safety, is primarily spread by the bite of infected midges, which are more active in warmer months.
Bluetongue
In the latest update on the disease, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said that the total number of BTV serotype 3 cases in Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season (since July) is 78.
Until now, all cases had been in England.
The total number of BTV serotype 8 cases in Britain for the 2025 to 2026 vector season is one, which was also in England.
The UK recorded its first cases of bluetongue in the 2025/2026 season in July, in two cattle in Herefordshire.
The confirmation of the case was announced on July 11, on the same day a sheep in Oxfordshire was also confirmed with BTV-3, following a report of suspicious clinical signs.
Last month, a case of the bluetongue virus serotype three (BTV-3) affecting deer was confirmed in East Sussex.
Following a pre-movement test, the Defra confirmed three farmed deer to be positive with the virus on August 14.
