The VSV outbreak continues to spread.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture says vesicular stomatitis has now entered Lyon and Coffey counties. Lyon County has one confirmed case, three suspect and pending cases and four cases under quarantine. Coffey County has one confirmed case under quarantine.
VSV now covers most area counties. Chase County has one case under quarantine. Greenwood County has three cases released from quarantine. Morris County has one case in quarantine.
Currently, VSV is in 17 counties. There are 28 confirmed cases and 44 suspect or pending cases. Nearly 90 animals have been released from quarantine.
VSV is a viral disease which primarily affects horses but has also been found in other livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas. Symptoms include lesions on the muzzle, lips, ears, coronary bands or ventral abdomen. Infected animals can also have fevers and other blister-like lesions on the mouth, dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, ears and hooves. The virus is transmitted from biting insects such as black flies, sand flies and midges according to KDA.
It can take five to seven days for the virus to subside, however, it can take an additional week for the affected animal to fully recover.
For more information, call the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601 or go online to www.agriculture.ks.gov/VSV.
