The Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practicing in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI) has said they are “at a loss” to understand why Northern Ireland is the only UK region that has not yet been permitted to vaccinate against bluetongue virus (BTV).
The organisation believes that Northern Ireland is “disadvantaged” and “under-prepared” for an outbreak that seems inevitable, because vaccinating against BTV3 has not yet been authorised there.
AVSPNI president, Melanie Spahn, said she wrote to senior Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) staff last week to suggest a strong case for bluetongue vaccination in Northern Ireland.
Spahn said vaccination should be carried out in an “organised manner now, rather than doing so in haste after clinical cases have already been identified here”.
The AVSPNI stress that now is the time when midges are most prevalent and active, but the characteristics of the vaccines themselves mean that it is important to vaccinate before the breeding season begins.
The association feel the window of opportunity for action is “closing fast” and farmers must “remain vigilant”, looking for BTV signs.
The AVSPNI said: “In cattle, a raised temperature and a drop in milk yield may be the only signs of infection and are therefore hard to spot.
“The main signs in sheep are mouth ulcers, drooling, swelling of the head and neck, and lameness.
“As well as the risk of an outbreak caused by midges, there is the risk of importing the disease to Northern Ireland by importing infected animals of any species. With cases in the UK, that risk has heightened considerably.”
Bluetongue risk
The first cases of bluetongue in the UK for the 2025/2026 season were identified in cattle in Herefordshire, and a sheep in Oxfordshire on July 11.
A further outbreak occurred in Buckinghamshire the following day. Given that the virus is spread by biting midges, the disease can spread very quickly in favourable weather conditions.
The AVSPNI has highlighted that in the present circumstance, the risk of the disease spreading to Northern Ireland livestock is very high, with DAERA veterinary surgeons commenting publicly about the inevitability of BTV arriving at some point.
The veterinary association confirm that they are not calling for “compulsory vaccination” against bluetongue, but would like farmers to have the option to protect their flocks and herd.
According to the AVSPNI, Scottish farmers are already doing so and the organisation feel the risk to Northern Ireland livestock is comparable.
