STATE VETERINARIAN’S OFFICE
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Update
On June 24, 2015, the New Mexico Livestock board announced a confirmed case of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in a horse located in Sandoval County; this most recent confirmation is approximately 100 miles from Colorado.
A notable change in the 2015 outbreak response protocol for VS has resulted from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) de-listing of equine VS as a foreign animal disease; VS continues to be a “listed foreign animal disease” for cattle and other livestock. This USDA procedural change for response to equine VS will allow greater flexibility in how VS is managed in horses and other equids. The goal in the management of this disease is to accomplish effective disease control while minimizing the negative economic impacts on the equine industry.
A new document detailing the new VS investigative guidelines for practicing veterinarians and state/federal animal health officials will be sent out in the near future.
A summary of the major changes in the equine VS investigation process for 2015:
- After the initial case of VS is diagnosed in a Colorado equine, practicing veterinarians will be able to investigate many equine cases, issue verbal hold orders, and submit samples for testing.
- Most samples can be submitted to the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (after the index case in Colorado) instead of to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL).
- After the initial case of VS is diagnosed, laboratory testing for VS will be done at the owner’s expense.
- CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will report results to CDA, USDA, and to the practicing veterinarian
- Quarantines of horses residing at affected premises may be reduced, with a 14 day minimum quarantine.
VS cases involving other livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and camelids) will continue to be investigated as they were in 2014, by state or federal animal health officials.
BCHA Nicker 