Vesicular Stomatitis Continues to Decline

Only 57 premises remained under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis in the United States as of Nov. 10, signaling that the disease continues to decline. Nearly 440 ranches and farms have reported outbreaks of the disease since April. Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming have reported new VS premises since the end of October. Nebraska released the last of three previously quarantined VS premises today.

Vesicular stomatitis primarily affects cattle, horses, and swine. Infected animals get blisters on their lips, tongues, and coronary bands. The blisters enlarge and break, leaving raw tissue that is so painful the animals generally refuse to eat or drink, and they become lame. Severe weight loss usually follows. The disease is thought to be spread by insects. Officials keep VS-affected farms under quarantine until 30 days after the final lesion is healed on a farm's last affected animal.

Colorado officials have reported two new equine and four new bovine premises since Oct. 31. Newly affected counties include Eagle (a bovine premises) and Garfield (an equine premises). The state has 12 positive premises under quarantine, two of which are on a 21-day countdown for removal of quarantine.

Montana reported one new bovine premises in an already infected county, bringing its total number of positive premises under quarantine to five, two of which are on the 21-day quarantine removal countdown. Wyoming added two new bovine premises in previously affected counties, making the total quarantine premises count 35. Twenty-four of the Wyoming premises are on their 21-day countdowns.

Idaho has one remaining positive premises and Utah has four (two of which are on their 21-day countdowns).

The quarantine removals in Nebraska mean states such as Kentucky that enforce restrictions on importation of horses originating in VS-affected states have lifted those restrictions. Horses can be shipped freely from Nebraska into these states.