What action is the Welsh Government taking to increase the supply and availability of bluetongue vaccines, and to increase laboratory and diagnostic capacity to ensure suspected cases can be confirmed as quickly as possible during the current outbreak?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability | Answered on 04/09/2026
The Welsh Government is part of the GB Bluetongue Vaccine Taskforce and is working closely with industry, vaccine manufacturers and wholesalers to monitor Bluetongue vaccine availability and support continuity of supply.
The Pirbright Institute is the National Reference Laboratory for Bluetongue diagnosis. As its capacity is being stretched by the current outbreak, additional surge testing is being undertaken at the APHA laboratory in Weybridge.