A Bright Spot in the Vesicular Stomatitis Outbreak

A Bright Spot in the Vesicular Stomatitis Outbreak

While there have been several horses who have tested positive for Vesicular Stomatitis in Montrose, Delta and Laplata counties, there is good news this year in how the state is able to manage the disease. Colorado State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr explains that Colorado will be managing the disease very differently than in the past.
Roehr: “USDA has delisted the disease for horses — meaning that they are no longer required to report to the world community or the OIE updated reports on vesicular stomatitis. So states are given more flexibility in how the manage the disease. So we are using science-based principles to reduce the regulatory burden of vesicular stomatitis on horses and horse owners. So what our goal is business continuity so that fairs, shows and events can proceed as normal with certain guidelines. So that the virus does not have as much of a negative economic impact on the state. We think we can do that effectively."
One example of the difference in managing the disease moving forward: in the past confirmed cases had to be quarantined for three weeks after being completely healed and now horses will quarantined for 14 days after horse expresses the last clinical signs.
For more information or to monitor any new cases, you can go to colorado.gov/aganimals

 

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