The EFRA Committee has called for a detailed explanation
from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for the UK's lack of
preparedness and their response to the ongoing
bluetongue outbreak.
In a letter (PDF attached) sent to the two
agencies' Chief Executives on 8 September, the Committee
asks a series of questions relating to three main
themes:
- Vaccine availability and access
- How information and advice have been
communicated with farmers, veterinarians and
livestock markets
- Testing capacity and delays in providing results.
EFRA Committee Chair MP said:
This has been a summer of heartbreak and anxiety for farmers
and livestock keepers who fear for the wellbeing
of their animals as much as the viability of their
businesses.
These sectors were already
feeling immense pressure from droughts, heatwaves
and wildfires as this disease began to spread. There is
widespread sentiment that our state agencies have been
asleep at the wheel, and that more could and should
have been done before and during this outbreak.
The National Audit Office published a report
in June 2025 that warned our country would be
caught off guard if an event like this occurred. We now want
to understand what was done in response to that report, what
plans were in place, why vaccine and
testing capacity have been so limited, and what lessons
have been learnt along the way.
As of 7 September, cases of Bluetongue had been reported on 942
premises in England, Scotland and Wales, with more reported
cases yet to be confirmed. The latest data on new
cases is provided on the government's website.
The potentially fatal disease is spread by midges to animals
including sheep, cattle, goats, deer, llamas and
alpacas.
There are concerns that the outbreak will continue until the
midge season comes to an end as temperatures cool in
autumn and winter.
The NAO report, Resilience and Animal Diseases, is available
here.
