Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have warned that bluetongue infections in the UK could continue into the new year and urged vets and farmers to plan vaccination programmes now. The warning accompanies latest incident figures issued on 19 October and precedes an AHDB-hosted webinar examining the virus’s fertility impacts.
Incidence and why cooler weather is not a safeguard
Data released on 19 October showed 12 new incidents confirmed in Britain, taking the total since the start of July to 3,424. Pirbright’s vector ecology fellow Marion England emphasised that the arrival of cooler temperatures should not be taken to mean the risk has passed.
“You could still get new infections from infected vectors right the way through until potentially the beginning of January.”
England explained that while bluetongue virus replication in its Culicoides midge vectors is thought to require average daily temperatures of around 12°C, midges infected before temperatures fall remain capable of transmitting the virus for as long as they survive. She also noted a change in midge seasonal patterns:
“Midges used to disappear around November, but in the past few years they’ve continued through to the end of December or beginning of January so we’re getting a shorter window of reduced disease transmission.”
Advice and immediate actions
The Pirbright Institute’s statement was issued ahead of an AHDB-hosted webinar at 17:00 on Wednesday 21 October, which will examine the fertility impacts of bluetongue. Places for the webinar were available via the AHDB website.
- Latest figures: 12 new incidents confirmed on 19 October; total 3,424 since July
- Temperature threshold: virus replication thought to require average daily temperatures of about 12°C
- Seasonal vector activity: infected midges may persist and transmit until early January in recent years
The extracted report noted that midge population levels remained normal through the year, with no evident impact from the ongoing drought. The Pirbright statement and the AHDB event underline an ongoing public-health and veterinary focus on timing vaccination and other control measures to reflect the continued seasonal risk.
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| new incidents (reported) | 12 (reported 19 October) |
| total since July | 3,424 |
| AHDB webinar | 17:00 on Wednesday 21 October |
Farmers and vets are advised to consider the timing of vaccination and disease-prevention planning in light of the Institute’s assessment. The AHDB webinar will discuss fertility effects of the virus; further technical detail and guidance was signposted through Pirbright and AHDB channels in the same announcements.
