Vets will now be able to diagnose bluetongue virus in livestock so farmers do not have to wait for confirmed test results under changes announced by the government.

The potentially deadly virus, which affects sheep and cattle as well as other animals, continues to spread with confirmed cases on 1,048 farms, external in the UK – more than half are in Devon and Cornwall.

Farmers previously needed to wait for samples to be sent to a laboratory to confirm bluetongue but the government said vets would now be able to diagnose the disease after examining the animals.

UK deputy chief veterinary officer Ele Brown said: “Bluetongue is widely circulating in England and our approach needs to keep pace.”

The deputy chief vet added: “Private vets are well placed to recognise signs of the diseases, and this change will mean farmers can get a diagnosis more quickly.

“Vaccination is the best tool available to help protect susceptible livestock, so I absolutely continue to urge farmers to speak to their vet about vaccinating their herd or flock.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it had set up a new online system allowing vets to report confirmed cases.

It said the changes would “mean fewer straightforward cases need to wait for laboratory results, giving farmers an answer sooner and helping them take quicker action to protect livestock”.

National Farmers Union vice-president Robyn Munt said the changes should help farmers get answers “more quickly”.

“However, as private vets take on greater responsibility for diagnosing and reporting bluetongue cases, it’s vital that the burden of disease control is not disproportionately shifted on to veterinary practices,” she said.

“It is also essential that rapid escalation and testing processes remain in place where clinical signs could indicate another notifiable disease, so that any emerging threats are identified and dealt with quickly.”

A new heat map, external has also been published so farmers can see where suspected and confirmed cases of bluetongue were being reported, said Defra.

Spread mainly by midge bites, the virus was confirmed in a sheep in Cornwall in September 2025.

This strain was introduced into Cornwall from midges blown in wind from northern France but scientists believe the virus likely spread rapidly after overwintering in parts of the UK.

The outbreak has hit the agriculture sector hard and some farmers fear it will have a lasting impact.

Jerry Sanders-Carr, who runs Exe Valley Lamb, near Exeter, said he had lost 15% of his sheep to the virus.

“Talking to some of the guys who’ve been going out picking up large numbers of dead animals every morning, some of these guys I’m sure there’s going to be a lasting impact on them,” he said.

Mark Walter, who farms in Milton Damerel in north Devon, feared 40% of his lambs could be born stillborn or with disabilities because of bluetongue.

He added: “All we were doing is jabbing sheep day and night. The poor sheep, it was horrendous for them.”

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Follow BBC Devon on X, external, Facebook, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk, external.