Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)
7/20/20
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) is a viral disease that primarily affects cattle and horses, but swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas are also susceptible. In very rare instances, it can also be transmissible to humans. This year, it had been mostly found in southern Kansas, but is spreading and several premises have been confirmed to have the virus in Miami County. And as of writing this article, it has been confirmed in 20 counties in Kansas.
It isn’t typically a fatal disease but can cause several issues and complications around movement of livestock. It can halt the sale and movement of animals from a location for two weeks should it be confirmed present.
Symptoms include excessive salivation, lesions in the mouth & nose, lack of appetite, and lameness. The disease is spread through bodily fluid such as saliva from animals utilizing a shared watering system or by blood from biting flies moving from one animal to another.
Practicing strict bio-security measures and working to control biting insect populations will help contain the spread. If you notice any of these symptoms, separate the animals that show symptoms from the group and call your veterinarian immediately. This is a disease that requires laboratory testing by the Kansas Department of Ag, and any positive premises will be quarantined for two weeks. Check out this link from the KDA for more resources and the most up-to-date information regarding the spread of the virus in Kansas.
Written by Juju Wellemeyer