Bluetongue: how to spot and report it

The signs of bluetongue virus, how you must report it and what happens when you do.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges.

Rarely, bluetongue can affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material (such as aborted material and afterbirth).

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

If you keep livestock, you must keep a close watch for and report any suspicion of bluetongue in your animals.

The severity of the infection depends on the type (serotype) of the virus and may also be affected by the strain.

Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:

Lambs can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the dam is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:  

Adult cattle may be infectious for several weeks while showing little or no sign of disease. They are often the preferred host for biting midges (the vector of bluetongue virus).

Calves can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the mother is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:

A photo of a sheep with its mouth open showing a blue and swollen tongue.

A photo of a sheep with its open mouth open showing ulcers on the gums.