The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health has released a set of preventative measures to prevent the transmission of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV).
VSV is an equine disease that are transmitted by insect-based parasites. Kansas has seen an increase in VSV cases in recent years. In summer 2020, there were over 100 reported positive cases of VSV spread across 26 counties. There were around 20 animals, with 5 from Lyon County, that were either confirmed or suspected to have the disease. With this in mind, the KDA Division of Animal Health is committed to stopping the trend by advising horse owners and caretakers to consider the following practices:
1. Strict fly control. Keeping pens clean, manure removed, and fly traps present will all help minimize insects’ contact with the horses.
2. Regularly inspect the horses for symptoms that might indicate VSV. Symptoms include blister-like lesions, fever, excess salivation, reluctance to eat, or lameness.
3. Keep your horses separated from other horses. Do not tie your horse with other horses. Do not share equipment, tools, tack or water buckets.
Acting on these practices will protect horses across Kansas and assist the state’s equine industry in disease prevention and avoid a potential outbreak in VSV this summer.
For further information, go to www.agriculture.ks.gov/VSV to learn more about VSV prevention and symptoms.
