Information on the current animal disease situation can be found in the respective latest issue of the monthly newsletter Radar Bulletin (in German language).
After the bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) spread explosively throughout Germany in 2024, causing severe clinical symptoms and numerous deaths in susceptible animals, the situation calmed down significantly in 2025 as a result of natural infection and extensive vaccination campaigns. In the midge year 2025/26, which will continue to be evaluated until the end of April 2026, individual BTV-3 outbreaks will continue to be detected, but their number will be significantly reduced compared to the same period last year. The current maps of BTV activity in Germany underline this development (see right). It should be noted that, for capacity and economic reasons, serotyping was not necessary as long as only BTV-3 was detected in Germany. The BTV detections of unknown serotype shown in the triple map on the right should therefore also be considered as BTV-3 detections, even if no additional confirmatory BTV-3 PCR was performed on the affected animals.
However, the triple card (centre) also shows that since October 2025, there have been further detections of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) in Germany. It should be noted that two different strains of BTV-8 are currently circulating in Germany. The ‘old’ BTV-8 strain (BTV8-FRA2015) has been detected in Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia. This strain has been active in France since 2015, was detected in a very limited number of animals in south-western Germany between 2018 and 2021, and has now apparently been reintroduced into Germany from France. This BTV-8 strain causes no or only minor clinical symptoms.
In addition, a ‘new’, genetically different BTV-8 strain (BTV8-FRA2023) is circulating, which has spread from southern France via Switzerland, Italy and Austria to southern Germany. This ‘new’ BTV-8 strain has now been confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue (NRL-BT) in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony and Saarland. Some of the outbreaks of BTV8-FRA2023 detected in Germany were accompanied by typical clinical symptoms of bluetongue. Colleagues from Austria report that this ‘new’ BTV-8 strain has caused more severe clinical courses than BTV-3 in some cases. It can therefore be assumed that the ‘new’ BTV8-FRA2023 strain can cause significant clinical symptoms in susceptible animals, especially sheep and cattle.
Based on experience with the two BTV-8 strains currently circulating in Europe, it can be assumed that the ‘new’ BTV8-FRA2023 strain in particular will continue to spread northwards. How quickly and to what extent this spread will occur in the summer and autumn of 2026 cannot be predicted at present. However, it is certain that a threat to the susceptible ruminant population from BTV8-FRA2023 cannot currently be ruled out.
There is no difference between the two serotype 8 strains in terms of control and the establishment of BTV-8 restriction zones. The approved BTV-8 vaccines from various manufacturers are effective against both strains. As inactivated BTV vaccines generally cause only minor side effects, vaccination against BTV-8 is recommended by the NRL-BT. The development of robust immunity as part of the basic immunisation programme should be completed before the start of summer vector activity, if possible, as an increased probability of transmission can be expected from this point onwards. Simultaneous vaccination against BTV-3 is possible.
Further information on bluetongue is available in the corresponding FLI information sheets (download on the right-hand side of this page).
Current information on BT outbreaks in Germany for the current year can be found in the table and map on this page. Further information on the situation in the Netherlands can be found on the website of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (in Dutch) and for Belgium on the Sciensano website (in Dutch).
Messages
Risikoeinschätzung, 15.05.2025
In Nachbarländern von Deutschland wurden in den letzten Monaten Infektionen mit dem Virus der Enzootischen Hämorrhagie des Serotyp 8 (EHDV-8), sowie mit dem Virus der Blauzungenkrankheit der Serotypen 4, 8 und 12 (BTV-4, BTV-8 und BTV-12) gemeldet. In der vorliegenden Einschätzung der aktuellen epidemiologischen Situation wird das Risiko der Übertragung von EHDV-8, BTV-4, BTV-8 nach Deutschland durch Windverdriftungen von Gnitzen in Kombination mit legalem Handel in den Monaten Dezember bis März als vernachlässigbar, für die Monate April und November als mäßig und für die Monate Mai bis Oktober als hoch eingeschätzt. Eine analoge Einschätzung gilt für BTV-12, sofern erneute Ausbrüche dieses Serotyps beobachtet werden. Eine Impfung wird als einzige Möglichkeit empfohlen, um empfängliche Tiere zu schützen.
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Outbreak of bluetongue serotype 3 in the Netherlands - possible cases in Germany
Dutch veterinarians observed clinical signs of bluetongue (BTV) in sheep on five farms in the provinces of Noord-Holland and Utrecht on 3 and 4 September. On 5 September, the Dutch reference laboratory (WBVR) confirmed bluetongue on four of the five farms and identified serotype 3 (BTV-3). More than 40 farms are now affected, mostly sheep farms. The Dutch government initiated measures such as the closure of the affected farms and outbreak investigations.
Due to the dynamics of the event, with a large number of new outbreaks, there is a risk that German farms may also be affected. Therefore, small ruminants and cattle showing clinical signs typical of BTV should be tested for infection.
High fever (up to 42°C), swollen tongues, reluctance to eat, salivation and lethargic to moribund behaviour have been observed in some affected sheep. As the disease progressed, lesions in the mouth and tongue were also reported, as well as deaths.
The whole of the Netherlands has lost its BTV-free status. This means that cattle, sheep and goats from the Netherlands can only be moved within the EU in accordance with the measures laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 (in german language).
Since 2014, Bluetongue disease, serotype 4 (BTV-4) has spread from Greece across the Balkan states in a northwestern direction. In late 2015/early 2016, cases of the disease were detected in Austria. In 2016, mainly Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia were affected. Some of the cases in Northern Italy, where the disease mainly affected cattle and sheep but also individual goat and mouflon holdings, were detected less than 150 km away from the German border. In June 2017, six BTV-4 outbreaks and two BTV-1 outbreaks were reported in Italy.
In France, Bluetongue disease, serotype 8 (BTV-8) has been circulating since August 2015. In autumn 2016, the number of reported BT cases increased further and the affected area expanded. BTV-8 in France is still detectable less than 150 km away from the German border and thus continues to represent a threat for Germany.
Based on past experiences it must be expected that the number of cases will re-increase over the next few months, although currently the number of outbreaks is low. The next few months (in particular August, September and October) will show how the situation in France and Italy will develop.
Table 1: Outbreaks bluetongue disease in 2017
(Source: ADNS, last updated: 28.06.2017–09:15 h)
| Month | France | Italy | Portugal | Croatia | Spane | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 252 | 36 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 293 |
| 2 | 186 | 29 | 215 | |||
| 3 | 141 | 23 | 164 | |||
| 4 | 56 | 13 | 69 | |||
| 5 | 19 | 9 | 28 | |||
| 6 | 3 | 8 | 11 | |||
| Total | 657 | 118 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 780 |
Consequences for Germany
Although the current BTV-8 and BTV-4 epidemics are characterized by only mild symptoms of disease, clinical surveillance is important for early detection. The following symptoms are possible: fever, inflammation of mucous membranes, ulcers and necroses of the skin and oral mucosa, lips, nose, teats and udder, edema of the head and extremities as well as respiratory disorders. When any of these symptoms are observed, animal holders should contact their veterinarian without delay.
As Bluetongue disease has moved closer to Germany and can lead to severe disease and death particularly in sheep and goats, immunization of susceptible animals against BTV-8 and BTV-4 is recommended. Some federal states subsidize vaccination against Bluetongue disease.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination in Veterinary Medicine has issued a vaccination recommendation on Feb. 2, 2016.
January 2017
Since 2014, Bluetongue disease, serotype 4 (BTV-4) has spread from Greece to the Balkans towards the Northwest. In late 2015 and early 2016 cases were detected in Austria. So far, in 2016 mainly Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia have been affected. Some of the cases in Northern Italy, which affected mainly cattle and sheep, but also individual goat and mouflon holdings, are only less than 150 km away from the German border.
In France, Bluetongue disease serotype 8 (BTV-8) has been circulating since August 2015. In autumn 2016, the number of reported BT cases increased again strongly and the affected area expanded. Meanwhile some of the reported cases are only 150 km away from the German border (see map).
Consequences for Germany
Although the current epidemics of BTV-8 and BTV-4 go along with less severe symptoms of disease, clinical surveillance is important for early detection. The following symptoms are possible: fever, mucosal inflammation, ulcers and necrosis of the skin and oral mucosa, lips, nose, teats and udder, edema of the head and extremities and respiratory dysfunction. If animal holders observe any of these symptoms, they should contact their veterinarian without delay.
As Bluetongue disease has spread further towards Germany and the animal disease can lead to severe illness and death, particularly in sheep and goats, animal holders should vaccinate susceptible animals against BTV-8 and BTV-4. In some federal states vaccination against Bluetongue disease is subsidized.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination in Veterinary Medicine has issued a vaccination recommendation on February 2, 2016. (in German language only)
Risk Assessment on the Introduction of Bluetongue Disease, Serotype 4, last updated November 2015
In addition to recent developments in the spread of BTV serotype 4, the updated qualitative risk assessment on the introduction of bluetongue disease also includes serotype 8 outbreaks in France. Furthermore, the FLI has published recommendations for an increased surveillance of bluetongue disease.
Bluetongue virus (BT) of the serotype 4 (BTV4) currently circulating in Southeastern Europe continues to spread northwards, however more slowly than in the previous year. Since September 2014, Hungary has been reporting cases of BT caused by the same virus strain that is circulating in Greece and Romania. In November 2015, BT was detected in Austria, for the first time in the last seven years. The virus also belongs to serotype 4. A BT outbreak has also been reported from Slovenia in close vicinity to the Austrian border. Currently (30 November 2015) the 150 km restriction zones end at a distance of 80 km from the German border (one year ago the distance was still 400 km). In addition, BTV-4 infections have been detected in particular in Italy; the virus type however is not identical with the one circulating in the Balkan states.
In September 2015, BTV-8 re-occurred in Central France for the first time since 2010 and spread over a large area. To date, 90 outbreaks have been reported. The restriction zones end at a distance of approx. 100 km from the German border (30 November 2015).
There is a risk of introduction for BTV-4 and BTV-8 into Germany
- by the wind-borne spread of infected live vectors,
- by introduction of infected vectors through trade and traffic and
- by trade with susceptible animals, sperm, embryos and egg cells
Due to the rapid spread of the virus in Southeastern Europe the risk of introduction by live vectors in the upcoming biting midge season is assessed as likely to high.
In the exposure estimation the risk of introduction by live vectors is assessed as high, for all other introduction routes as low.
The consequence estimation shows a high risk, as both BTV-4 and BTV-8 hit an unprotected population and cause severe economic damages and considerable suffering to animals.
In addition to the legally required measures, vaccination is an option. However a vaccination programme can cause considerable costs and is only suitable to prevent a spread of bluetongue disease if vaccination coverage is adequately high.