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  Discussion on VS Quarantine Lifted in Starr County, Texas;
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 20, 2009 - 3:52 am:

News Release
Texas Animal Health Commission
Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719

Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director
For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242, ext. 710, or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us

For immediate release:
Vesicular Stomatitis Quarantine Lifted in Starr County, Texas;

Continue to Check with States of Destination Before Hauling Livestock!
Texas animal health officials have lifted a quarantine on a ranch in Starr County, where horses
have recovered from vesicular stomatitis (VS), a virus that occurs sporadically in Texas, New
Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and other western states. Currently, there are no
quarantines or active investigations for vesicular stomatitis in Texas.
Livestock susceptible to VS include horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and other cloven-hooved
animals. Infected animals can develop blisters, lesions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzles,
tongue, teats and above the hooves and usually recover in two to three weeks. To prevent the
spread of this virus, which is not fully understood, quarantines remain in effect until at least 21
days after the animal’s lesions have healed.
“Although the quarantine in Texas is released, some states may continue to enforce enhanced
entry requirements or restrictions on Texas livestock until the height of the VS ‘season’ ends in
late fall, when temperatures DrOp. New Mexico also has had VS this year, and it is possible that
another VS case could be detected in Texas, since the virus is active this year.” said Dr. Bob
Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission, the state’s
livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. He urged private veterinary practitioners and
livestock owners to check with the states of destination prior to moving animals to ensure all
entry requirements are met.
Dr. Hillman explained that the clinical signs of VS mimic the highly dangerous foot-and-mouth
disease, and a veterinary exam and laboratory tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis. “Horses
are not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, but they are often the first animals to get VS,” said
Dr. Hillman. “We can assist with private veterinary practitioners with disease investigations at
no charge, and we can receive disease reports 24 hours a day at 800-550-8242.”
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