CO VSV Outbreak

CO VSV Outbreak

Maura Bennett
Maura Bennett

Colorado’s State Veterinarian says a freezing forecast isn’t good news for crops that were planted late this year but it could be good for one thing. That’s reducing the spread of agricultural vesicular stomatitis.

Dr. Keith Roehr says cases of vesicular stomatitis or VSV have been identified in 35 counties:

ROEHR: WE’ve had an extensive outbreak that started in early July and has continued through the present day. We’ve had approximately 660 some locations that have been under movement restrictions. Either hold orders on suspect cases or quarantines when we’ve done laboratory testing to confirm infection.”

Roehr says in the past outbreaks have occurred in ‘94-’95, 2004-2005 and ‘14-’15 so this outbreak is already unusual.. Just once, in 2015, cases persisted from summer, through the winter and into Spring of 2016. His hope is that cold weather prevent this one to persist.

There are no approved vaccines for VSV. Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease that primarily affects horses and cattle but occasionally swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas will show signs. The transmission process of VSV is not completely understood, but includes insects such as black flies, sand flies, and biting midges.

Previous ReportCo Ag Resource Study
Next ReportCO West Nile