Debate contribution: Bluetongue
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 7 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Bluetongue
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5669974
Read the official Assembly record
Text
To date, in this season, no cases of bluetongue have been detected in Northern Ireland. Any reported suspect cases here have been ruled out following testing. I am aware that, on Friday 4 September, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed that, on post-mortem examination, an unvaccinated 16-month-old heifer tested positive for the bluetongue virus BTV-3. The herd is in County Wexford, and no clinical signs were detected prior to the death of the animal. That is the first case of BTV-3 detected in Ireland in the 2026 season. As of 6 September 2026, there have been 910 cases of bluetongue BTV-3 in Great Britain in the 2026-27 bluetongue season, which began on 1 July. That includes 791 cases in England, 98 cases in Wales and 21 cases in Scotland. A case is defined as a premises on which at least one bluetongue-positive animal has been confirmed. The figure represents a significant increase compared with the 2025-26 outbreak season, when 348 cases were confirmed in Great Britain.
My Department continues to respond to any reported suspect cases and is undertaking abattoir surveillance, post-import testing of susceptible animals from EU countries, monitoring of wind plume meteorological data and midge surveillance in order to determine the beginning and end of the vector-active period. The increase in BTV-3 cases in Great Britain, including recent cases in Scotland, is concerning. My Department is also aware of reports of increased severity in clinical signs. I encourage all livestock keepers to consult their private veterinary practitioner for advice on vaccinating their livestock against the threat of BTV-3.
263 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.