Good morning California Equine Practitioners,

Vesicular Stomatitis has been confirmed in Texas and Kansas.

Below are the case details and new entry requirements for horses, cattle, sheep, goat and swine entering California from a VS Affected State.

Situation Update

On October 23, 2019, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed a finding of VSV infection (Indiana serotype) on a premises in Sherman County, Kansas. Three of 5 horses on the premises are showing clinical signs of VSV and one of the horses has met confirmed case definition of an index case in a new state with a VSV-positive complement fixation titer of 1:40 or greater. Two of the affected horses are also PCR-positive for VSV-Indiana. There are 14 cattle on the premises that are clinically unaffected and the premises is currently under state quarantine. This is the 2019 VSV index case for Kansas.

Additionally, during the last week, a new confirmed premises has been identified in Collin County, Texas. Note, Texas entry requirements had been rescinded on Monday October 21, 2019, as the state had released all quarantines and had no confirmed cases in the prior 30 days.

Current, VS Affected states include: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

Vesicular Stomatitis Requirements for Importing Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats and Swine into California

All horses, cattle, sheep, goat and swine *originating from any state where vesicular stomatitis (VS) has been diagnosed (except cattle and swine transported directly to slaughter) must be accompanied by a health certificate (certificate of veterinary inspection) and signed by an accredited veterinarian that includes the following statement:

“I have examined all the animals identified on this certificate within 72 hours of shipment date and found them to be free from signs of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS). During the last thirty (30) days, these animals have not been exposed to VS nor located on a VS confirmed or a VS suspected premises.”

*For purposes of this requirement, “originating” means horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and swine that initially leave the VS infected state and come to California, or those that leave any state, visit an infected state, and then return to California.

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) has no additional requirements, at this time, on horses coming from a VS-infected area to enter race tracks and/or CHRB-approved training centers. For more information, contact CHRB at 916-263-6000.