Bluetongue in Scotland (4 September 2026)

What livestock keepers should do now and where Virkon® S fits in

Checked against Scottish Government, GOV.UK and manufacturer source material current to 4 September 2026

Bluetongue is no longer something Scottish farmers can watch from a distance. A Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is in place in south-west Scotland, and BTV-3 has been confirmed on holdings in the area. The practical priorities are vaccination, lawful and well-planned movements, prompt reporting of suspect disease, and good farm biosecurity. Disinfectants are a useful supporting layer, but they cannot prevent midge bites or replace vaccination: biting midges are the principal route of transmission. [1][2]

The position on 4 September

The APHA release supplied for this article reports 856 BTV-3 cases in the 2026–27 season to 4 September: 748 in England, 88 in Wales and 20 in Scotland. Scottish Government’s position page, last updated on 3 September, reports 19 confirmed affected holdings in Scotland and 78 confirmed BTV-3-positive animals: 63 cattle and 15 sheep. Listed affected locations include areas near Gretna, Lockerbie, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Dalbeattie, Annan, Newton Stewart, Canonbie, Twynholm and Castle Douglas. [1]

This matters beyond the TCZ. Culicoides biting midges that can transmit bluetongue occur throughout Great Britain; they can be carried long distances by wind. Their main activity period is April to November, and, once infected, a midge can transmit the virus for the rest of its life. [2]

Bluetongue can affect sheep, cattle, goats, deer and camelids, including alpacas and llamas. Signs may include fever, dullness, swollen head or face, nasal discharge, a sore mouth, excess salivation, lameness, reduced appetite, milk drop, abortions and unexplained weakness. It is a notifiable disease: any suspicion must be reported immediately to APHA. [1][3]

Movement rules from 10 September

The Scottish TCZ remains in place, but movement conditions change from 10 September 2026. Check the relevant current general licence and the TCZ map before every move; arrangements should be confirmed before animals are loaded. The headline requirements published by Scottish Government are set out below. [1]

Real-life example:

A Dumfries and Galloway suckler herd needs to send in-calf heifers to winter accommodation outside the TCZ. Even if both premises belong to the same business, this must be treated as a regulated movement. The keeper should establish whether the animals meet the pregnant-cow category, confirm vaccination status and timing, arrange PCR sampling where required, and retain the documentation before transport. A shortage of grass or housing space does not remove the requirement to comply. [1]

Vaccination is the main protection

Scottish Government states that vaccination is the best measure to protect animals from the worst effects of bluetongue. Keepers should discuss their own exposure - species, breeding plans, expected movements, local cases, pregnancy status and vaccine timing - with their vet. Vaccination does not, by itself, remove movement restrictions, so vaccine records are not a substitute for checking the licence conditions. [1][2]

• Prioritise animals where disease, fertility loss, abortion, mortality or movement disruption would have the greatest welfare or business impact.
• Plan ahead of sales, tupping, scanning, calving, lambing, wintering and breeding movements so that any required interval after vaccination is not missed.
• Keep clear records of animal identity, product, batch, date, course completion and booster status, together with movement and test documents.
• Continue to investigate clinical signs in vaccinated stock; vaccination reduces risk but does not remove the duty to report suspicion.

Where Virkon® S can help

The suitable Virkon product for a general livestock-premises biosecurity programme is Virkon® S. LANXESS describes it as a broad-spectrum powder disinfectant for professional disinfection, with activity against viruses, bacteria and yeasts. The manufacturer lists UK Defra approvals for specified disease-control applications, including Diseases of Poultry, Avian Influenza, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, General Orders, Swine Vesicular Disease and the Import of Animal Products Order. [4]

The limit is just as important as the benefit: there is no basis for presenting disinfecting hard surfaces as a direct way to stop ordinary bluetongue transmission. GOV.UK identifies biting Culicoides midges as the most common source of infection. Virkon S should therefore be presented as one component of hygiene and biosecurity, alongside - not in place of - vaccination, movement compliance, responsible sourcing, prompt reporting and measures that reduce midge exposure. [2][4]

A practical Virkon® S routine

• Clean before disinfecting. Remove manure, bedding, blood, birth fluids and other visible organic matter from boots, trailers, gates, tools and handling equipment. Then prepare and apply Virkon® S exactly as the UK product label specifies for the task.
• Use a controlled entry point. Provide dedicated farm footwear or a boot-cleaning and disinfection point for staff, vets, contractors and visitors. Replace solutions when dirty and follow the label on preparation, use and disposal.
• Treat livestock transport as an interface between holdings. After markets, shows, collections, returns from shared premises or movements from affected areas, clean and disinfect the trailer, ramp, floor, partitions, gates and latches before it is used again at home.
• Separate arrivals. Where possible, keep bought-in animals apart, use separate clothing and equipment, and avoid unnecessary sharing of troughs, handling gear and staff routines. Set the isolation plan with the practice vet.
• Keep birthing and isolation areas hygienic. Remove and safely manage afterbirth and aborted material promptly. GOV.UK specifically advises keeping dogs, cats and pets away from potentially infected materials. [2]
• Use safely and lawfully. Read the label and product information, use the required PPE, follow dilution and contact - time instructions, and check material compatibility, runoff and disposal requirements. LANXESS notes that approved uses can vary by country and region. [4]

Real-life example: A mixed farm near Lockerbie brings home store cattle in a shared trailer, then plans to use it for its own in-calf cows two days later. After unloading, the team removes bedding and muck, thoroughly cleans the trailer, then disinfects the cleaned ramp, floor, walls, gates and latches with correctly prepared Virkon® S for the label-specified contact time. Staff change into farm-only boots and clothing before going near the home herd. This will not neutralise the risk from infected midges, but it reduces avoidable carriage of contaminated organic material and supports control of other livestock pathogens. [2][4]

• Practical checklist
• Speak to your veterinary practice now about BTV-3 vaccination priorities, timing, supply and records.
• Check the Scottish TCZ map and the applicable general licence every time animals or germinal products are moved.
• Assess incoming stock carefully: source responsibly, ask about origin and movement history, isolate where practical and maintain records.
• Where feasible, house susceptible animals in buildings that keep biting midges out, particularly at dawn and dusk. [2]
• Maintain a clean-to-dirty routine: start with resident healthy stock and leave new, isolated or suspect animals until last.
• Use Virkon® for cleaned facilities, footwear, equipment and vehicles in accordance with the UK product label; do not use it as a substitute for midge precautions, vaccination or legal movement controls. [2][4]
• Report compatible signs or abortions promptly. In Scotland, notify the local APHA Field Services Office immediately if bluetongue is suspected. [1][3]

Sources and verification

This article was checked against the primary government pages and the manufacturer product page listed below. Web links and access dates are included so that readers can verify the current position. Because outbreak totals, zone boundaries and licence conditions can change quickly, always consult the live government page immediately before moving animals.

[1] Scottish Government. “Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - Latest situation.” Last updated 3 September 2026.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/bluetongue/pages/latest-situation/ (accessed 4 September 2026).

[2] GOV.UK. “Bluetongue: how to prevent it and stop it spreading.” Last updated 16 September 2024.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading (accessed 4 September 2026).

[3] GOV.UK. “Bluetongue: how to spot and report it.”

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bluetongue (accessed 4 September 2026).

[4] LANXESS. “Virkon® S - Biosecurity Solutions product page.”

https://lanxess.com/en/products/industries/biosecurity-solutions/products/virkon-s (accessed 4 September 2026).

Important note: This is practical information, not veterinary advice or a movement licence. Follow the current official rules, your veterinary surgeon’s advice. Use biocides safely, always read the product label.