The first case of Bluetongue in Northern Ireland this season has been confirmed on a farm in Kilkeel, County Down. Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said the virus had been detected in three sheep. There will be no additional movement restrictions or disease control zones, because the virus has been present in Northern Ireland since November 2025.
The minister Andrew Muir said the discovery of the virus was "disappointing but not unexpected", given the spread of the disease in Great Britain and Ireland. The Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher urged local farmers to be alert to any symptoms in their livestock. The confirmation of the virus in Kilkeel comes after more than a hundred cases across the Republic of Ireland in recent months.
Cases in England have been increasing, with 2,950 now confirmed. There have been 512 cases in Wales and 57 in Scotland. The mild winter means more of the biting midge that spreads the disease are likely to have survived and become infectious this season.
Muir said awareness was key, adding: "Continued vigilance and strict biosecurity measures remain of paramount importance and I would once again urge all farmers to report any suspicion of disease to DAERA. "It is important that I reiterate that Bluetongue poses no threat to public health nor to food safety – milk and meat are safe to consume." Dooher said any suspected cases on farms should be reported to Daera. "Active surveillance is ongoing at abattoirs alongside post-import testing of susceptible animals imported from mainland EU countries.
"I also want to stress the importance of safe and responsible sourcing of animals." The disease was first detected here near Bangor in County Down in November 2025. A number of other herds along the eastern coast of Northern Ireland have also been affected. Farmers have been urged to vaccinate their animals.
The disease affects ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats and deer.
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