Worst outbreak of 'bluetongue' disease triggers parliamentary inquiry in Britain

The British Parliament has launched an investigation into the authorities' response to the worst recorded outbreak of bluetongue disease, after confirmed infections in 3,472 animal husbandry facilities during the 2026-2027 season. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee in the House of Commons summoned representatives of farmers, veterinarians, and government agencies to discuss shortcomings in the response. Discussions focused on delays in laboratory test results of up to three weeks during the peak of the outbreak, and the impact of vaccine cost and availability on farmers' willingness to vaccinate their animals. MPs also examined the effectiveness of government campaigns to encourage vaccination, and the potential impact of misinformation about vaccines on farmers' decisions. The latest data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs indicates 2,917 facilities in England, 500 in Wales, and 55 in Scotland.