Vesicular Stomatitis Outbreak Update – August 6, 2014 There are currently 69 confirmed VSV-positive premises in Colorado; the quarantines are located in Adams, Boulder, Douglas, El Paso, Larimer, and Weld Counties. There are still many investigations being conducted on livestock that are exhibiting clinical signs consistent with VSV and samples on those cases are still pending. All of the positive VS cases have been in horses except for one VS-positive bovine case involving a 7 year old beef cow. The USDA map of affected counties and cases within each county can be accessed at the following link: aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/downloads/animal_diseases/vsv/CumulativeOverview_EXTERNAL_8x11_port_VSV2014_073014.pdf The majority of cases are still between Boulder and Brighton from the south, up to Fort Collins and Greeley to the north. Over the past two weeks our office has been receiving approximately 10 reports daily of animals demonstrating clinical signs that are consistent with VS. Veterinarians have been very observant and diligent to report horses and other livestock that are suspicious of being infected. Livestock owners should be aware that insect control is an important tool in the prevention of VS. Most of the cases we have investigated involve horses that have had no history of movement, therefore black flies and midge control will be important in preventing the continued spread of disease. Important Points for Veterinarians: • Any vesicular disease of livestock is reportable to the State Veterinarian’s Office at 303-869-9130 or to the USDA APHIS VS Colorado office at 303-231-5385. If after-hours, call the State Veterinarian’s Office at 303-869-9130 to obtain the phone number of the staff veterinarian on call. • CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CSU-VDL) has graciously offered to accept the VS samples that you hand-deliver to the CSU-VDL, spin them down, transfer the serum, and label the samples. The foreign animal disease diagnostician (FADD) will then pick up the samples and finish the submission and packaging for shipment to NVSL in Ames, IA. If it would be more convenient for the practicing veterinarian to drop off VSV samples at CSU-VDL instead of taking samples back to their clinic, please use that option. Tips for Event Organizers and Livestock Owners: Organizers of events should institute requirements for health certificates for all horses entering the premise. In addition to: • Strict fly control is an important factor to inhibit the transmission of the disease. • Avoid transferring feeding equipment, cleaning tools or health care equipment from other herds. • Colorado veterinarians and livestock owners should contact the state of destination when moving livestock interstate to ensure that all import requirements are met. A list of contact information for all state veterinarians’ offices is available at colorado.gov/ag/animals and click on Import Requirements. • Colorado fairs, livestock exhibitions, and rodeos may institute new entry requirements based on the extent and severity of the current VS outbreak. Certificates of Veterinary Inspection issued within 2-5 days prior to an event can beneficial to reduce risks. Be sure to stay informed of any new livestock event requirements. • During an event, important VS disease prevention procedures include minimizing the sharing of water and feed/equipment, applying insect repellent daily (especially to the animals ears), and closely observing animals for signs of VS. For additional information, contact the Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office at 303-869-9130. To view other epidemiological information on the VSV outbreak, visit the USDA Veterinary Services site at the link: aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_our_focus%2Fsa_animal_health%2Fsa_animal_disease_information%2Fsa_equine_health%2Fsa_vesicular_stomatitis%2Fct_vesicular_stomatitis
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:23:09 +0000
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