VSV Reports Leveling Off

Reports of new VSV-positive cases peaked in July and appear to have tapered off during August.
Reports of new VSV-positive cases peaked in July and appear to have tapered off during August.
(USDA)

So far this summer, the USDA has confirmed vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) on premises in six states: Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. No new states have been confirmed positive since the last situation report.

The latest situation report, issued August 15, shows report 117 new VSV-affected premises (36 confirmed positive, 81 suspect), identified since the previous report on August 9, 2019.

The 2019 VSV outbreak began on June 21, 2019, when the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa confirmed the first VSV-positive premises in Kinney County, Texas. Since then, USDA has identified 783 VSV-affected, with 328 confirmed positive and 455 suspect. This year’s outbreak has almost exclusively affected equines, with just three of the 783 affected premises involving cattle – two in Colorado and one in Texas.

This summer’s outbreak includes:

  • Colorado has identified 527 affected premises (206 confirmed positive, 321 suspect) in 23 counties.
  • Nebraska has identified 2 affected premises in 2 counties.
  • New Mexico has identified 74 affected premises (47 confirmed positive, 27 suspect) in 12 counties.
  • Oklahoma has identified 1 affected premises in 1 county.
  • Texas has identified 155 affected premises (64 confirmed positive, 91 suspect) located in 34 counties.
  • Wyoming has identified 24 affected premises (8 confirmed positive, 16 suspect) in 5 counties

See the latest situation report from the USDA.

For more on VSV and other emerging cattle diseases, see these articles from BovineVetOnline:

Summer Brings Risk of Vesicular Stomatitis

IIAD tests system for response disease outbreak

ISU Offers Online Animal Disease Emergencies Course

One-health Approach Helps Address Zoonotic Disease

 

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