Debate contribution: Bluetongue Virus: Bangor

Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on 1 December 2025.

MLA

Mr Andrew Muir

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

1 December 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

Bluetongue Virus: Bangor

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5268867

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to make a statement to the Assembly on the recent suspect case of the bluetongue virus (BTV) in Northern Ireland. I intend to use the statement to update Members on the current state of BTV incursion across the UK; the suspect case of BTV at a farm near Bangor, County Down; the immediate disease control actions that have been taken by my Department and next steps; and key measures for industry at this worrying time. Bluetongue is an insect-borne viral disease to which all species of ruminants are susceptible, although sheep are most severely affected. Often, cattle and goats that appear healthy can carry high levels of the virus and provide a source of further infection. The disease is caused by a virus that is transmitted by certain species of biting midges. Animal-to-animal transmission is not a significant method of spread, except through the transplacental route, and germ plasm is also involved in the spread. The species of midge that carries the infection is found in Northern Ireland. Bluetongue can reduce milk yield, cause sickness and reduce reproductive performance. While it can also have major trade impacts, it is a disease of animals, not humans, so there are no public health or food safety issues. As Members will be aware, there have been a significant number of BTV cases across England and Wales in recent years. The total number of cases since July 2025 is 228. There have been no cases in Scotland or the Republic of Ireland. As a result, direct movement of all live ruminants and camelids from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is still suspended. The use of approved unauthorised vaccines in England and Wales does not impact on that. In seeking to progress actions to protect Northern Ireland, I agreed in June of this year to publish DAERA's disease control framework for Northern Ireland for bluetongue virus BTV-3. The framework presents DAERA's surveillance in response to a heightened disease risk of BTV with respect to serotypes — otherwise known as "strain types" — without an approved vaccine and for those with vaccines that have been authorised by the EU in exceptional circumstances. Developed in close cooperation with industry, it details the range of existing and ongoing measures to prevent and detect early disease introduction. They include existing post-import testing for ruminant and camelid animals imported from mainland Europe, with one or more tests required, depending on origin and pregnancy status; midge surveillance carried out by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) across seven Northern Ireland sites in spring and autumn to detect start and end of vector-active season; and horizon scanning of the mainland Europe, Great Britain and Republic of Ireland BTV disease picture to be aware of heightened risk, learn lessons from other authorities and tailor our approach, as required. The framework also outlined our surveillance-testing protocol, which was reinforced last year to include more comprehensive sampling, including EDTA sampling, to facilitate PCR testing of serology positives. In addition, as Members will be aware, I took the further decision in July of this year to permit the voluntary use of three bluetongue serotype 3 vaccines in Northern Ireland. I turn now to the suspect case. On Saturday 29 November, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute indicated that two of three cattle samples submitted to the laboratory on 18 November were positive for bluetongue. Neither animal was vaccinated. The samples came from a cattle and sheep farm near Bangor, County Down. I take the opportunity to thank the affected farmer for his ongoing cooperation during such a difficult time. The suspect BTV positive was picked up because of the enhanced surveillance-testing protocol at all Northern Ireland abattoirs, which was introduced in June 2024. That, along with the actions that I have just mentioned, complement the immediate follow-up of any reported cases with veterinary investigation to negate concerns or declare a suspicion.

Due to those initial results, as outlined in the framework, a 20-kilometre temporary control zone (TCZ) was immediately introduced around the affected farm on the same day, Saturday 29 November. It should be noted that the samples are now subject to confirmatory testing at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) in Germany, the EU reference laboratory and the UK national reference laboratory (NRL) at Pirbright before disease can be either confirmed or definitely ruled out. The immediate disease control restrictions that are now in place mean that moving susceptible species, such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer and llamas and alpacas, on or off premises in the zone and on the affected farm is now prohibited while officials carry out further investigations. Moves direct to slaughter are permitted under a general licence, which is available on my Department's website. It should be noted that such moves are, in part, being permitted as the advice indicates that the risk is minimal. That is because it is likely that we are nearly, if not already, in the vector low period, which means that midges cannot spread the disease in the colder weather. The further capture of midges will allow us to confirm that over the coming days. In addition, DAERA officials were on-site on Saturday morning and confirmed that there were no clinical signs in any of the remaining cattle or sheep on the farm, nor were there any clinical signs in the animals that were sampled at the abattoir. Officials are also tracing any animals that moved on or off the farm during the risk window from 1 October 2025. Any holdings that are identified as having received animals from the affected farm will be subject to surveillance and testing if required. The Department has issued a press release and updated the departmental website with further information on BTV, with specific information for farmers who are in the temporary control zone. The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) and officials met the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) last night to discuss the situation, and they are directly contacting all farmers in the area by text and email. Further communications will be considered in the coming days, and the most up-to-date information will be available on the DAERA website. As our BTV-free status has now been suspended, moves of live animals to the Republic of Ireland and the EU can be permitted only for direct slaughter. Breeding and production moves will not be permitted either from or to farms that are in the control zone. Animal moves to Great Britain are all suspended while immediate discussions are held between officials to agree on the requirements for moves for slaughter and breeding and production in line with those available to the rest of the UK. As Members will appreciate, this is a developing situation, and we expect clarity on those movements imminently after the necessary meetings take place today. Germ plasm movements out of the zone are not permitted unless they satisfy testing and biosecurity requirements. Furthermore, the effects on the movement of products of animal origin should be minimal. Some individual export certificates may be dependent on bluetongue freedom, but those will be limited in number. The suspected incursion is worrying, and I have outlined to officials my determination that all necessary steps are taken to mitigate any further risks and that all efforts are made to stamp out the disease. My Department will, therefore, immediately test all the remaining cattle and sheep on the affected farm. The results from that testing will further inform actions. In addition, a range of surveillance activities will be progressed in the temporary control zone and will include a ban on any moves except to slaughter. Twenty large farms, randomly spread across the area, will be tested to determine the extent of spread, if any, within the zone. It is important to note that only when further veterinary investigations take place, in addition to a further assessment of potential midge activity, can decisions be made about how long the temporary control zone will remain in place, how long trade restrictions may last, whether any further zones need to be established and how long the current ban on movements within the zone will last. Officials will, therefore, keep affected farmers and the wider industry regularly updated with timely communications. That will include convening a wider stakeholder and industry meeting later today to update them on the current situation. I have also had direct discussions with my counterpart in the South, Minister Heydon, and I plan to discuss the matter with DEFRA colleagues at the earliest opportunity. I will keep in close contact with colleagues in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. In the time ahead, I appeal to all farmers to immediately notify the Department of any suspicions of BTV so that appropriate action can be taken. A large range of material is available on the DAERA website, including pictures of the clinical signs and next steps if an incursion is suspected. I also remind the public that, while bluetongue is extremely serious for animal health and productivity, it is not zoonotic, and there are no public health or food concerns. I will ensure that updates are provided, as necessary, to my Executive colleagues and also, importantly, the AERA Committee in the first instance. I will be happy to return to the House if there are any further significant and serious developments in the time ahead.

As Minister, I made a decision to allow farmers to have access to the vaccines. That is a decision for them. They are available, and farmers can take advice from their private veterinary practitioner in relation to their uptake. The focus now has to be on eradication. That is why we set up the temporary control zone and why movements are only permitted directly to slaughter, and there is a form available on the DAERA website to facilitate that. Additional testing is under way by the Department. Together, I think that we can stamp it out, but it is important that we all work collectively on the issue and stand united on one message that the temporary control zone and the understanding of it must be respected, and I am sure that it will be. My engagement with the Ulster Farmers' Union has shown that we are in this together, and we are going to work together on it.

As Minister, I take the issue very seriously. When the positive test was confirmed on Saturday evening, the Department rolled into action in its response to it, and rightly so. I have also spoken to my counterpart in the South because we are one single epidemiological area, and that is why it is important that we work together on it. We have a policy in place in relation to compensation. It states:

"This will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking account of epidemiological investigation and veterinary risk assessment. However, due to the vector-borne nature of the disease, widespread slaughter is unlikely to be used to control bluetongue. If bluetongue positive animals are culled, compensation will be paid at 50% of market value. Any imported animals that are found to be infected with bluetongue during post-import checks will be culled, unfortunately, with no compensation payable. Compensation will not be payable in the following circumstances: where imported, infected or exposed animals are slaughtered on a discretionary basis as a disease risk, or seriously affected animals are destroyed for welfare reasons by the decision of the owner."

First, on how it came about, there are ongoing investigations. It is spread by midges, so it is a bit more difficult to totally ascertain. It is relatively cold weather now, but Members will probably remember that, a few weeks ago, it was relatively warm, so that risk has existed in Northern Ireland. On the risk of bluetongue going beyond that herd, the guide, which I have been going through all weekend, is the disease control framework, and we will work through that in our response. The most effective way to avoid it spreading is to set up control zones and to limit movements and for farmers to be vigilant. If they suspect bluetongue, it is important that they immediately report it and isolate any sick animals. The Department is taking a number of actions in its response. It is conducting additional blood samples of other herds and the affected herd. Traps for midges are being set, and we are going to be testing those. There is also additional abattoir surveillance. Hopefully, through those collective actions, we can progress to eradication. I am very conscious that it is a worrying time for the farming community in Northern Ireland. I did not want to have to come the Assembly about this, especially at this time of year, when we had hoped that we were out of the vector-borne season, but it is important that we respond collectively, and I think that we will.

Thank you, John. I was immediately in contact with my counterpart in the South, Martin Heydon, when the results came through on Saturday evening. I spoke to him yesterday, and we will continue our engagement as Ministers. There is also significant engagement between veterinary service colleagues, North and South, on the issue. It is a threat to our agri-food industry in the island of Ireland, and it is important that we respond accordingly. That is what we are doing. Beyond that, we need to work together as politicians and with the farming community in Northern Ireland so that we have one collective and clear message that a control zone is in place and only moves direct to slaughter are permitted. A form for that is available from the DAERA website. People can download the form, and, if they bring it with their livestock to the abattoir, it should cover them.

As Minister, my focus in the situation now has to be on dealing with the consequences of the positive samples that have come through. The best way that we can secure the future of the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland is by moving fast and hard in response to those samples. My officials have been doing that. They did it all day on Saturday and Sunday, until late last night, and again from first thing this morning. That is what we must do, and that is what will secure the future of the agri-food industry.

2,389 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:02 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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