🔴 Bluetongue Virus Spreads Across Europe: UK, Balkans, and Central Europe on Alert
Published 9 days ago in News

🔴 Bluetongue Virus Spreads Across Europe: UK, Balkans, and Central Europe on Alert

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is surging across Europe in autumn 2025, with BTV-3 entrenched in northern and central regions and BTV-8 expanding rapidly into the Balkans and even the UK.

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Martina Osmak
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A Two-Front Battle: BTV-3 and BTV-8

Europe is facing a double wave of bluetongue virus this season. BTV-3, carried by biting midges, remains widespread in north-west and central Europe, with outbreaks stretching from the Netherlands and Germany to Poland and the UK. Meanwhile, BTV-8—previously centred in France and Italy—has jumped eastward, appearing for the first time in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bulgaria, and has now reached the UK as of late September.

United Kingdom

The UK has been battling BTV-3 all summer, recording 80 confirmed cases across England and Wales by September. On 26 September, the country reported its first case of BTV-8, in Cornwall, marking a concerning new phase. England remains under a nationwide restricted zone, limiting animal movements.

Central & Eastern Europe

  • Poland: Ongoing BTV-3 outbreaks, including the 6th this year confirmed on 24 September. One case involved a European bison in Wolin National Park, showing spillover into wildlife.

  • Germany: BTV-3 continues to circulate, with EU-authorised vaccines (Bluevac-3, Syvazul BTV3) available.

  • Netherlands: Transitioned to a national monitoring system from July 2025 after repeated BTV-3 cases.

The Balkans

  • Montenegro: The agriculture ministry confirmed bluetongue in 24 sheep and 32 cattle across about 30 farms in seven municipalities by late September; authorities stress the situation is “under control.”

  • Slovenia: Detected its first-ever BTV-8 outbreak in July (Ilirska Bistrica).

  • Croatia: Reported BTV-8 outbreaks in July, later expanding to 18 holdings by mid-August; vaccination is voluntary.

  • Bulgaria: Notified WOAH of BTV-8 outbreaks in August, underscoring its eastward expansion.

France & Italy

France is in the middle of a large BTV-8 wave, with hundreds of outbreaks and an extensive vaccination drive. Italy continues to report BTV-8 activity, particularly in Sardinia, though this is not new in September.

Why It Matters

Bluetongue is not a human disease, but it devastates sheep and cattle, with economic impacts from animal illness, trade restrictions, and vaccination campaigns. Its spread depends heavily on climate and midge activity, making late summer and autumn high-risk seasons. With BTV-8 moving eastward and crossing into the UK, and BTV-3 entrenched in central Europe, the outlook for autumn 2025 is challenging.

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