A bluetongue vaccine will be permitted for use in Ireland in 2026, according to the Minister for Agriculture.
Martin Heydon said on Wednesday that vaccination against bluetongue will be allowed for cattle and sheep in Ireland next year following suspected cases on four farms in Co Down, reports Breaking News.
Bluetongue was first confirmed in a herd on a farm near Bangor last month, with additional suspected cases identified in the Greyabbey area.
Bluetongue is an animal disease that impacts livestock such as cattle and sheep, as well as goats, deer and llamas, reports Breaking News.
The disease poses no risk to humans or food safety and is mainly spread by midges.
The current outbreaks involve the bluetongue serotype 3 strain, known as BTV3, reports Breaking News.
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Mr Heydon said: “My objective has always been clear: to detect any incursion of BTV3 as early as possible, to respond as effectively as possible, and to reduce any disease impact on Irish cattle and sheep, and thus the consequences for Irish farmers, as far as possible.
“We now know that BTV3 is present on the island, following the four outbreaks detected in Co Down, Northern Ireland, reports Breaking News.
“This changes the risk picture and unfortunately makes it much more likely that the disease will spread during the high-risk season in summer 2026.
“For that reason, I have made the decision to permit the use of vaccination against BTV3 in Irish livestock”, reports Breaking News.
Speaking about vaccination, Mr Heydon said: “The main way this virus spreads is via midges, and we know that right now, it is too cold for this to happen in Ireland.
“The high-risk period will be summer 2026, and farmers can consider whether to use BTV3 vaccines in spring 2026 to protect their stock in advance of any midge-borne virus spread in the warmer months, reports Breaking News.
“I advise cattle and sheep farmers who are interested in BTV3 vaccination to discuss the option with their veterinary practitioner.”
Details on how to apply for a licence to obtain and use BTV3 vaccines will be issued by the Department in the coming days, reports Breaking News.
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