A general licence is now available for the bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccine across all of England, as announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Livestock owners in England can use any approved BTV-3 vaccine without needing a specific licence, but they must adhere to the mandatory conditions outlined in the general licence for vaccination activities.

The licence only applies to England; vaccination against BTV-3 is not yet authorised in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, though this is under ongoing review, according to Defra.

Defra stated that the broader licence ‘steps up' the nation's response to bluetongue. On Friday, October 18, two new cases were confirmed:

  •  One bovine case detected through surveillance testing in Berkshire.
  • One sheep in North Yorkshire traced back to a premises in Suffolk, which had moved prior to the establishment of the restricted zone.

These additions bring the total number of cases to 143 in England and two in Wales, as reported by Defra.

Unlike vaccines for other BTV serotypes, the BTV-3 vaccine reduces, rather than eliminates, viraemia (the presence of the virus in the bloodstream).

This means that the vaccine may not fully prevent infection or transmission. Depending on the specific vaccine, it may reduce or prevent clinical symptoms or mortality.

Due to this, all existing movement controls and trade restrictions will remain in place for vaccinated animals, according to Defra.

Vaccination status will not affect the movement restrictions, which still apply to all ruminants, camelids, and their germinal products moving out of restricted zones or within the zones.

Farmers are urged to move animals only when absolutely necessary. Defra recommends that livestock owners consult with their vets to determine if vaccination is suitable for their animals.

Farmers in England are being encouraged to contact their vet if they are considering any of the approved BTV-3 vaccines, Defra said.