VSV Ramping Up In The Area

The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health is responding to an outbreak of VSV that has continued to spread in horses across south central Kansas. VSV was first confirmed in Butler County on June 16 and has now been confirmed by testing on more than 30 farms in four counties. All premises with confirmed cases of VSV in horses have been quarantined. More than 60 premises are currently under quarantine in Butler, Cowley, Sedgwick and Sumner counties. A quarantine for VSV lasts for at least 14 days from the onset of symptoms on the last animal on the premises. Quarantines are not lifted until a veterinarian has examined all susceptible animals on the premises. VSV is a viral disease which primarily affects horses, but can also affect cattle, sheep, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas. At this time, all confirmed cases of VSV in Kansas are horses, although some cattle have shown clinical signs and confirmatory laboratory results are pending. Dr. Justin Smith, Animal Health Commissioner, warns that the outbreak is still very active in south central Kansas, and he encourages all owners of horses and other livestock to continue to be vigilant. Although it is rare, humans can also become infected with the disease when handling affected animals, and can develop flu-like symptoms. The primary way the virus is transmitted is from biting insects like black flies, sand flies and midges. There are no approved vaccines for VSV.