August 19, 2005

US state acts to prevent vesicular stomatitis

Nebraska, a leading farming state in the US, will now require livestock producers to get permits before importing certain livestock from other states with reported vesicular stomatitis, a viral disease which has symptoms resembling FMD.

Vesicular stomatitis has been confirmed in US states such as New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. The disease brings on fever and blisters in parts pf body such as mouth, nostrils, hooves, and affects animals like cattle, swine, sheep and goats.

Severe weight loss usually follows, and in dairy cows, a severe drop in milk production commonly occurs.

Veterinarians must now issue inspection certificates to verify that the imported animals show no sign of the disease.