Since the September 10 update, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has received confirmation of three new cases of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in horses. One premises is located 3 miles north of Bastrop in Bastrop County, one is located 5 miles east of Bastrop in Bastrop County, and the other is located 10 miles northeast of Giddings in Lee County, the first case reported in this county. Seven premises have been released in Bastrop County, and one premises in Travis County has been released.

To date, 61 premises in 13 Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Currently affected counties include: Bastrop, Falls, Guadalupe, Lee, McLennan, and Travis counties. Of the 61 premises, 47 have been released. Seven counties have been released from quarantine: Jim Wells, Kinney, Nueces, San Patricio, Val Verde, Williamson, and Hidalgo counties.

The newly identified infected premises are currently under quarantine by the TAHC. Affected horses will be monitored by regulatory veterinarians while under quarantine. Premises are eligible for quarantine release 21 days after all lesions have healed.

For VS history and past updates visit  http://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/equine/equine.html

Several states are imposing enhanced entry requirements on Texas livestock due to VS cases. For information, contact the state or country of destination and/or visit  http://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2014StateRestrictionsOnTX_VS.pdf

For more information about VS, visit the TAHC’s brochure at  http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/brochures/TAHCBrochure_VS.pdf

For current USDA-APHIS situation reports visit

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth?urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_our_focus%2Fsa_animal_health%2Fsa_animal_disease_information%2Fsa_equine_health%2Fsa_vesicular_stomatitis%2Fct_vesicular_stomatitis