Since the September 10 update, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has received confirmation of three new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses. One premises is located 3 miles north of Bastrop in Bastrop County, one is located 5 miles east of Bastrop in Bastrop County, and the other is located 10 miles northeast of Giddings in Lee County, the first case reported in this county. Seven premises have been released in Bastrop County, and one premises in Travis County has been released.
Public domain image/Dusan Bicanski
To date, 61 premises in 13 Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Currently affected counties include: Bastrop, Falls, Guadalupe, Lee, McLennan, and Travis counties. Of the 61 premises, 47 have been released. Seven counties have been released from quarantine: Jim Wells, Kinney, Nueces, San Patricio, Val Verde, Williamson, and Hidalgo counties.
The newly identified infected premises are currently under quarantine by the TAHC. Affected horses will be monitored by regulatory veterinarians while under quarantine. Premises are eligible for quarantine release 21 days after all lesions have healed.
In Colorado, the total positive premises is now at 297 with 168 premises currently quarantined. 13 counties in Colorado have been affected.
VS susceptible species include horses, mules, cattle, bison, sheep, goats, pigs, and camelids. The clinical signs of the disease include vesicles, erosions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzle, tongue, teats and above the hooves of susceptible livestock. Vesicles are usually only seen early in the course of the disease. The transmission of vesicular stomatitis is not completely understood but components include insect vectors,mechanical transmission, and livestock movement.
While rare, human cases of VS can occur, usually among those who handle infected animals. VS in humans can cause flu-like symptoms and only rarely includes lesions or blisters.
