I have been following the whole vesicular stomatitis outbreak with some trepidation not knowing where it's going to go. If they start quarantining the state as shipping is coming up what affects will it have on ranches that ship there cattle out of state? Not good I guarantee. Some good news might be that VS abates with a freeze so any complications should clear up after that point but what until then?
I was in Billings today and heard some scary news about this. People in close contact with vets around Billings say there is some cattle with it now but the tests haven't been confirmed by the State yet. Other states might start quarantining Montana cattle if this is the case. Then I heard from a family friend that has cattle in the Billings that he was set to ship a semi load of to Iowa this week and the truck driver called him the night before and said, "Iowa has not quarantined cattle from Montana but I cannot transport cattle into Iowa from Montana because they will not allow me to, sorry."
So, there is no quarantine but no cattle can cross the border. Is there to be a quarantine or what. With shipping season approaching this is not good. This is one of those situations that you have no control over but can really worry you. We'll see what happens.
I do believe that most men live lives of quiet desperation. For despair, optimism is the only practical solution. Hope is practical. Because eliminate that and it's pretty scary. Hope at least gives you the option of living. Harry Nilsson
UPDATE: I just recived the following e-mail which has a little more information including an APHIS website which has a wealth of information on VS.
Wednesday, August 17. 2005
Tip of The Iceberg?
Contributed by Karen" ,Internet:
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK
August 17, 2005
For Immediate Release
NINE MONTANA HORSES CONFIRMED WITH VS
(Helena, Mont.) - Test results have confirmed that horses at four
additional Yellowstone County premises have positive cases of vesicular
stomatitis (VS), according to Dr. Tom Linfield, Montana State
Veterinarian with the Montana Department of Livestock.
The first case of VS was confirmed on Aug. 10 in a horse in Laurel. As
of today (Wednesday) a total of nine horses have been confirmed with VS
on five premises around the Laurel and Billings areas.
According to state and federal protocol, when an animal is suspected of
having a foreign animal disease (FAD) a FAD veterinarian diagnostician
is required to be on-site to collect samples for testing. At that
time, the site is placed under quarantine until the test results are
available. From Montana, the samples are sent to the National
Veterinary Laboratory Services (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, or can be sent to
the FAD Diagnostic Laboratory at Plum Island, NY.
Test results are still pending for animals from 19 Montana premises.
"At this time, a total of 24 premises are under quarantine, including
those with pending test results," Dr. Linfield said.
Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona also have current
cases of VS in horses and/or cattle.
"Because of the confirmed cases of VS, Montana is now considered a
VS-affected state, and animal owners and veterinarians should be aware
that interstate restrictions will apply," Dr. Linfield said.
Veterinarians should check the destination state or country to comply
with specific requirements. "The export of Montana horses and
susceptible animals into Canada is prohibited, and other countries may
impose the same restrictions."
"There are currently no restrictions for in-state travel for animals,
except for animals on the premises under quarantine," Dr. Linfield
said. "However, livestock auction markets, fairs and horse events
throughout Montana may be requiring the precaution of having a
veterinarian check animals before they enter the event and upon
departure."
Owners can help protect their animals from this disease by avoiding
traveling to or congregating in areas known to be affected with VS.
Good sanitation practices should be used, as well as isolating new
additions to the herd or animals returning to the herd or premises.
Montana will be considered a VS-affected state until 21 days after the
lesions in the last affected animal have healed. As new animals are
diagnosed, the state's VS-affected status will be extended.
"Montana will still require animals traveling from other VS-affected
states to have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued within 72
hours of import into Montana," Dr. Linfield said. In addition,
shipments originating within 10 miles of an infected premises will
require veterinary inspection within 24 hours of import.
VS is a viral disease that primarily affects horses, cattle, and swine,
but may affect goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas. In affected
livestock, the incubation period for VS ranges from 2 to 8 days.
It is not fully known how the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is
spread. It is believed to be spread through insect vectors, such as
the sand fly and the black fly, movement of infected animals, and
contaminated objects such as water troughs and feed bins. Once
introduced into a herd, the disease apparently moves from animal to
animal by contact or exposure to saliva or fluid from ruptured lesions.
VSV causes blister-like lesions to form in one or several of the
following locations: mouth, dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, on the
coronary bands, or on the teats. These blisters swell and break,
leaving raw tissue that is so painful that infected animals generally
refuse to eat and drink and may show signs of lameness. Severe weight
loss usually follows. Swollen lips may be an early indication, and
excessive salivation or drooling is often a result of the oral lesions.
VS rarely causes death, but an animal can suffer several weeks while
the lesions heal.
Livestock owners and private veterinary practitioners should report
suspected cases of VS to the Montana Department of Livestock at
444-2043 or USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regional
office at 449-2220.
The Department of Livestock web site at www.mt.gov/liv has additional
information on VS, including a link to USDA at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/ncahs/nsu/surveillance/vsv/vsv.htm
where situation reports, maps and movement restrictions and
requirements are posted.
--30--
For more information contact:
___________________________
Karen R. Cooper, APR
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Livestock
301 N. Roberts
PO Box 202001
Helena, MT 59620-2001
406-444-9431
406-444-4316 fax
kcooper@mt.gov
** please note new email address
for your records **
_____________________
______________________________________
A service of the Montana Education Telecommunications Network - METNET
A division of the Montana Office of Public Instruction
Free E-Mail for certified Montana teachers
http://www.metnet.state.mt.us/UserReg.html
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF LIVESTOCK
August 17, 2005
For Immediate Release
NINE MONTANA HORSES CONFIRMED WITH VS
(Helena, Mont.) - Test results have confirmed that horses at four
additional Yellowstone County premises have positive cases of vesicular
stomatitis (VS), according to Dr. Tom Linfield, Montana State
Veterinarian with the Montana Department of Livestock.
The first case of VS was confirmed on Aug. 10 in a horse in Laurel. As
of today (Wednesday) a total of nine horses have been confirmed with VS
on five premises around the Laurel and Billings areas.
According to state and federal protocol, when an animal is suspected of
having a foreign animal disease (FAD) a FAD veterinarian diagnostician
is required to be on-site to collect samples for testing. At that
time, the site is placed under quarantine until the test results are
available. From Montana, the samples are sent to the National
Veterinary Laboratory Services (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, or can be sent to
the FAD Diagnostic Laboratory at Plum Island, NY.
Test results are still pending for animals from 19 Montana premises.
"At this time, a total of 24 premises are under quarantine, including
those with pending test results," Dr. Linfield said.
Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona also have current
cases of VS in horses and/or cattle.
"Because of the confirmed cases of VS, Montana is now considered a
VS-affected state, and animal owners and veterinarians should be aware
that interstate restrictions will apply," Dr. Linfield said.
Veterinarians should check the destination state or country to comply
with specific requirements. "The export of Montana horses and
susceptible animals into Canada is prohibited, and other countries may
impose the same restrictions."
"There are currently no restrictions for in-state travel for animals,
except for animals on the premises under quarantine," Dr. Linfield
said. "However, livestock auction markets, fairs and horse events
throughout Montana may be requiring the precaution of having a
veterinarian check animals before they enter the event and upon
departure."
Owners can help protect their animals from this disease by avoiding
traveling to or congregating in areas known to be affected with VS.
Good sanitation practices should be used, as well as isolating new
additions to the herd or animals returning to the herd or premises.
Montana will be considered a VS-affected state until 21 days after the
lesions in the last affected animal have healed. As new animals are
diagnosed, the state's VS-affected status will be extended.
"Montana will still require animals traveling from other VS-affected
states to have a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued within 72
hours of import into Montana," Dr. Linfield said. In addition,
shipments originating within 10 miles of an infected premises will
require veterinary inspection within 24 hours of import.
VS is a viral disease that primarily affects horses, cattle, and swine,
but may affect goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas. In affected
livestock, the incubation period for VS ranges from 2 to 8 days.
It is not fully known how the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is
spread. It is believed to be spread through insect vectors, such as
the sand fly and the black fly, movement of infected animals, and
contaminated objects such as water troughs and feed bins. Once
introduced into a herd, the disease apparently moves from animal to
animal by contact or exposure to saliva or fluid from ruptured lesions.
VSV causes blister-like lesions to form in one or several of the
following locations: mouth, dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, on the
coronary bands, or on the teats. These blisters swell and break,
leaving raw tissue that is so painful that infected animals generally
refuse to eat and drink and may show signs of lameness. Severe weight
loss usually follows. Swollen lips may be an early indication, and
excessive salivation or drooling is often a result of the oral lesions.
VS rarely causes death, but an animal can suffer several weeks while
the lesions heal.
Livestock owners and private veterinary practitioners should report
suspected cases of VS to the Montana Department of Livestock at
444-2043 or USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regional
office at 449-2220.
The Department of Livestock web site at www.mt.gov/liv has additional
information on VS, including a link to USDA at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ceah/ncahs/nsu/surveillance/vsv/vsv.htm
where situation reports, maps and movement restrictions and
requirements are posted.
--30--
For more information contact:
___________________________
Karen R. Cooper, APR
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Livestock
301 N. Roberts
PO Box 202001
Helena, MT 59620-2001
406-444-9431
406-444-4316 fax
kcooper@mt.gov
** please note new email address
for your records **
_____________________
______________________________________
A service of the Montana Education Telecommunications Network - METNET
A division of the Montana Office of Public Instruction
Free E-Mail for certified Montana teachers
http://www.metnet.state.mt.us/UserReg.html
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