Bluetongue virus
Bluetongue is a serious animal disease that is mainly spread by biting midges. It can affect sheep, cattle, deer, goats, llamas and alpacas.
Report Bluetongue
Keepers of livestock must report any suspected cases of Bluetongue immediately by calling 03000 200 301.
Important: Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. This means if you do not report it, you are breaking the law.
Find advice on how to spot Bluetongue
Confirmed cases
There have been a growing number of confirmed cases of Bluetongue across England.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency has created an interactive map, showing which areas are under the current Restriction Zone - this includes the borough of Hillingdon.
View the Bluetongue interactive map
Keepers of livestock
The Restriction Zone will be in place in Hillingdon until further notice and will be kept under regular review.
Keepers of livestock in the borough must comply with the current restrictions in place.
- A licence is needed to move animals in a disease control zone. APHA will issue a General Licence for some movements, but not all General Licences are immediately available while APHA investigate cases. Priority will be given to movements to approved slaughterhouses and welfare-related moves.
- Farmers can apply for a licence to exempt a specific movement from Bluetongue restrictions. The advice from Defra is to allow at least 5 days for the licence application to be processed. Complex and high-risk movements will need extra time to process. Farmers are advised to have contingency plans in place to allow for the time a licence takes to be issued and if the licence is refused.
More information and advice