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Vesicular Stomatitis News

Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease which primarily affects horses, cattle, and swine. The agent that causes vesicular stomatitis, VSV, has a wide host range and can occasionally infect sheep and goats. In affected livestock, VSV causes blister-like lesions to form in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, and teats. These blisters swell and break, leaving raw tissue that is so painful that infected animals generally refuse to eat and drink and show signs of lameness. Severe weight loss usually follows, and in dairy cows a severe drop in milk production commonly occurs. Affected dairy cattle can appear to be normal and will continue to eat about half of their feed intake. Humans can also be affected with mild flu like symptoms.

The current Vesicular Stomatitis (VSV) Outbreak continues to spread in Western States. As a result the Board of Animal Health has amended the Entry Regulations for horses coming into Mississippi from Vesicular Stomatitis affected states.

Emergency Vesicular Stomatitis Entry Regulation 

122.01 No hoofed animals may enter the State of Mississippi which originate from a premises currently quarantined for vesicular stomatitis. 122.02 All hoofed animals entering the State of Mississippi from a county which contains a premises currently quarantined for vesicular stomatitis , shall be examined by an accredited veterinarian to determine whether they are free from signs of vesicular stomatitis within 5 days prior to arrival into the State of Mississippi, and shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection with the following written statement signed by that accredited veterinarian: “All animals identified on this Certificate of Veterinary Inspection have been examined by me and found to be free from signs of vesicular stomatitis . Owner provided history which indicates that during the past 30 days, these animals have not been located within a facility quarantined for vesicular stomatitis.”

A permit shall also be required and can be obtained by call 601-359-1170 during business hours.

Current VSV affected states and counties. For up to date list: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/animal_diseases/vsv/sitrep-8-19-19.pdf 

VSV-positive premises have been confirmed to date in 7 states: Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. No new states have been confirmed positive since the last situation report. Since the start of the outbreak, 851 VSV-affected premises have been identified (353 confirmed positive, 498 suspect). Eight hundred forty-eight (848) of these premises have only equine species clinically affected and 3 premises have affected cattle (Boulder and Delta County, Colorado and Gonzales County, Texas).

Since the last situation report (August 19, 2019), there have been 43 new VSV-affected premises (14 confirmed positive, 29 suspect) identified:

Colorado (10 new confirmed positive, 26 new suspect premises):

  • Adams County – 1 new suspect premises
  • Boulder County – 1 new suspect premises
  • Chaffee County (New Infected County) – 2 confirmed positive premises
  • Delta County – 4 new suspect premises
  • Douglas County – 1 new suspect premises
  • Fremont County (New Infected County) – 1 confirmed positive premises
  • Jefferson County – 5 new confirmed positive, 2 new suspect premises
  • Larimer County – 2 new suspect premises
  • Mesa County – 1 new confirmed positive, 7 new suspect premises
  • Montezuma County – 1 new suspect premises
  • Montrose County – 5 new suspect premises
  • Park County (New Infected County) – 1 confirmed positive premises
  • Weld County – 2 new suspect premises

Since the last situation report, 64 previously VSV-infected or suspect premises have been released from quarantine.

Nebraska (1 new confirmed positive)

  • Dawes County (New Infected County) – 1 confirmed positive premises

Since the last situation report, 1 previously VSV-infected premises was released from quarantine in Lincoln County.

Texas (2 new confirmed positive, 1 new suspect premises)

  • Collin County – 1 new confirmed positive premises
  • Ellis County (New Infected County) – 1 confirmed positive premises
  • Williamson County – 1 new suspect premises

Since the last situation report, 30 previously VSV-infected or suspect premises have been released from quarantine.

Utah (1 new suspect premises)

  • Uintah County – 1 new suspect premises

Wyoming (1 new confirmed positive, 1 new suspect premises)

  • Hot Springs County (New Infected County)– 1 confirmed positive premises
  • Platte County – 1 new suspect premises

Since the last situation report, 7 previously VSV-infected or suspect premises have been released from quarantine.

For more information about VSV you can go to: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/horse-disease-information/vs/vesicular-stomatitis