Horses in Colorado that tested positive for vesicular stomatitis have prompted warnings for horses moving between the United States and Canada.
VS causes lesions on the inside of the mouth, nose and hoofs, as well as flu-like symptoms and anorexia.
VS is a reportable disease, which means any horse suspected of having it, must be immediately reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
No cases are suspected in Canada and the affected Colorado horses have no history of travel. They were quarantined in Weld County, Colorado, as of July 17, according to an Equine Canada news release.
Read Also
Dekalb’s blast from the past
Bayer celebrated the brand’s greatest seed hits at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show
Import of horses from Colorado and from Texas, where VS cases were identified earlier this year, were prohibited by the CFIA as of July 22.
Horses from other states must not have been in either Colorado or Texas in the 21 days before entering Canada.
Canadian horses that are returning to Canada from Colorado must have an import permit, tests and veterinary inspection, said the news release.
They must test negative for VS during the 15 days before re-entering Canada.
VS can affect cattle, sheep, deer and llamas. Its symptoms closely resemble foot and mouth disease. It spreads by contact with infected saliva or fluids from lesions.
The illness has not been found in Canada since 1949, according to CFIA fact sheets.
