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| Discussion on Vesicular Stomatitis Reported in Texas and New Mexico | |
| Author | Message |
| Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Jun 26, 2009 - 6:56 am: News ReleaseTexas Animal Health Commission Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719 Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us For immediate release: Nation’s First Case of Vesicular Stomatitis for 2009 Detected in Texas The nation’s first case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) for 2009 has been detected in a horse in Starr County, in far south Texas. VS is a sporadically occurring virus that is endemic to the U.S. Signs of the disease include blisters, lesions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzles, tongue, teats and above the hooves of susceptible livestock, which include horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and some other species of animals. “The most recent outbreak was in 2006 limited to Wyoming only, where 17 horses and a dozen cattle on 13 premises were confirmed to have the virus,” said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. “To prevent the spread or introduction of infection, many states and countries will place additional entry requirements or restrictions on the movement of animals from affected states, or portions of the state. Call the state or country of destination before moving livestock, to ensure that all entry requirements can be met. Do not risk shipments being turned away, or worse, spreading disease and facing legal action by animal health authorities.” “Often horses are the signal, or first, animals to be confirmed with vesicular stomatitis when the virus is active. If the blisters and lesions are seen in cattle, sheep, pigs or other cloven-hooved animals, our first concern is a possible introduction of foot-and-mouth disease, the most costly and destructive foreign animal disease. Horses are not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, but anytime blisters or unusual sores are seen, animals should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.” “Move sick animals away from the remainder of the herd to protect against disease spread,” urged Dr. Hillman. “Do not move sick animals from the premises, and call your veterinarian or the nearest Texas Animal Health Commission area office, or the Austin headquarters at 800-550-8242. Laboratory testing to confirm infection can be run at no charge to the livestock owner. “Vesicular stomatitis is painful for affected animals, but usually, the lesions will heal within two weeks to a month. For some severe cases, owners may elect to have an infected animal euthanized, to put an end to the suffering. In dairies, VS infection can lead to a substantial loss of production,” said Dr. Hillman. Treatment of VS-infected animals consists of supportive care, and antibiotics may be needed to prevent secondary infections in the open sores. Animal health officials in nearly all states, including Texas, require VS-infected animals and their herd mates to be quarantined until at least 21 days after all lesions have healed. A follow-up examination of the animals by the state veterinarian’s office is required prior to quarantine release. VS outbreaks are extremely sporadic, and years may lapse between cases. Sand flies and black flies are thought to play a role in the virus transmission, so controlling insects is important. In 2005, the VS outbreak involved livestock on at least 445 premises in nine states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. In 2004, affected animals were detected in eight counties each in Texas and New Mexico and in 22 Colorado counties. Before the 2004 outbreak, VS had been “silent” since 1998, when Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas had cases. \iWe have received these further notices of infections and state import requirements concerning states with confirmed VS  } As you know, vesicular stomatitis infection has been confirmed in Starr County, Texas and in De Baca County, New Mexico. A number of states have enhanced entry requirements or restrictions to prevent the introduction of the disease. (The vesicular stomatitis requirements or restrictions are an ADDITION to entry requirements and do not replace other documentation or testing requirements routinely required.) For instance, Texas now requires a statement on certificates of veterinary inspection for all livestock entering from New Mexico, due to VS infection there. The statement is: "The animals represented on this health certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis." (The accredited veterinarian also is to state that the animals have been examined and exhibit no clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis.) It is crucial to contact the country or state of destination prior to shipping or transporting livestock, if you live in Texas or New Mexico! Furthermore, if you live outside these states but plan to transport livestock into Texas or New Mexico and RETURN the animals to the state of origin, you need to know the requirements to re-enter your state. Check with your state prior to traveling to Texas or New Mexico to ensure compliance with entry requirements in place during the vesicular stomatitis outbreak! Additional information about vesicular stomatitis and entry requirements or restrictions we have received from other states are posted on the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) web site at https://www.tahc.state.tx.us. Vesicular stomatitis is the first topic on the home page. Carla Everett, TAHC Public Info -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry Becky L. Brewer, D.V.M., Animal Industry Services 2800 N. Lincoln Blvd. P.O. Box 528804 Oklahoma City, OK 73152-8804 Telephone: 405-522-6131 FAX: 405-522-0756 Permit Line: 405-522-6141 Emergency Import Requirements as of 6/23/09 Livestock (equine, bovine, porcine, caprine, ovine, or cervidae) entering or reentering Oklahoma from a state where vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed within the last 30 days shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) dated within five days of entry containing the following statement: "All animals identified on this health certificate have been examined and found to be free from signs of vesicular stomatitis and have not originated from a premise which is under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis." The CVI shall be signed by an accredited veterinarian of the state where vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed and shall be obtained prior to each entry or reentry into Oklahoma. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- California Department of Food and Agriculture Dr. Richard Breitmeyer 1220 N Street, Room 400 Sacramento, CA 95814 916-651-6870 All horses, cattle, and swine *originating from any state where vesicular stomatitis (VS) has been diagnosed since June 1, 2009, (except cattle and swine transported directly to slaughter) must be accompanied by a health certificate (certificate of veterinary inspection) and signed by an accredited veterinarian that includes the following statement: “The animals represented on this certificate have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis, or a premises on which VS has been diagnosed in the past 30 days. I have examined the animals and have found no signs of vesicular stomatitis.” *For purposes of this requirement, “originating” means horses, cattle, and swine that initially leave the VS infected state and come to California, or those that leave California, visit an infected state, and then return to California. Additionally, the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) requires that any horse coming from a VS infected state must test negative for VS within the past thirty (30) days to enter race tracks and/or CHRB approved training centers. For further information, you may contact Dr. Rick M. Arthur, Equine Medical Director, CHRB, at (916) 263-6000 or by FAX at (916) 263-6042 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- New Mexico Livestock Board Dr. Dave Fly Office of the State Veterinarian 300 San Mateo NE, Suite 1000 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108 (505) 841-6161 The New Mexico Livestock Board requires an entry permit for all horses and other livestock entering the state from a county with vesicular stomatitis. (Currently in Texas, that is limited to Starr County.) The permit may be obtained at no charge by calling the New Mexico Livestock Board at 505-841-6161. For ALL livestock entering New Mexico from Texas, the following statement is required on the certificate of veterinary inspection: “The animals represented on this CVI (health certificate) have not originated from a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis (VS), or a premises on which VS has been diagnosed in the past 21 days. I have examined the animals and have found no clinical signs of VS.” For more on VS see the article associated with this discussion. DrO |
| Member: kathleen |
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| Moderator: DrO |
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| Moderator: DrO |
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