Bluetongue Virus (BTV) Confirmed in Northern Ireland Livestock

Key facts

• Bluetongue virus (BTV) is spread by midges and poses no threat to the public or food safety, but it can affect cloven-hoofed animals like sheep and cattle.
• The virus affects cattle, goats, sheep, deer and camelids such as llamas and alpacas, causing symptoms like ulcers or sores around the animal's mouth and face, difficulties swallowing and breathing, fever and lameness, foetal deformities and stillbirths.
• Biting midges are most active from April to November, and the potential for spread depends on climatic conditions and wind patterns with lower temperatures significantly reducing the risk.
• The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) monitors midge numbers using traps set in seven locations spread out across Northern Ireland, and samples for suspected cases are sent to national and EU reference laboratories for confirmation.