The note below is the latest update
from the Texas Animal Health Commission on Vesicular Stomatitis (VS). In a recent conversation with the local
inspector for the Bastrop & Travis County area, he informed me that “we
currently have several premises under quarantine or hold order in Travis and Bastrop
Counties”. I will keep you up to date as
this develops, however, I encourage you all to check the Texas Animal Health
Commission website and subscribe as well.
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/
From the Texas
Animal Health Commission, July 11, 2014
“On July 10, the Texas Animal
Health Commission (TAHC) received confirmation of two new cases of Vesicular
Stomatitis (VS) in horses in Bastrop and Travis counties in Central Texas. One
premises is located 2 miles east of Webberville, TX in Travis County. The other
premise is located 4 miles east of Webberville in Bastrop County. To date, 10
premises in seven Texas counties have been confirmed with VS. Those counties
include: Kinney, Hidalgo, San Patricio, Nueces, Jim Wells, Bastrop and Travis
counties. Note: The Kinney
county premises has been released from quarantine.
The newly identified infected premises are currently
under quarantine by the TAHC. Affected horses will be monitored by regulatory
veterinarians while under quarantine. Premises are eligible for
quarantine release 21 days after all lesions have healed. There is no known
exposure to other horses around the state, or at any equine events.”
From Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension
Contestants who are preparing to haul horses to shows and
contests this summer, including the Texas State 4-H Horse Show, should be
cautioned about the importance of using best management practices for disease prevention
and good biosecurity practices at all times.
Horse owners should be encouraged to follow important
practices such as: do not comingle your horses with other horses of
unknown origin; do not water horses out of a community water trough (each should
have their own buckets); do not share halters and bridle bits between horses
without first thoroughly washing and disinfecting them; thoroughly clean hands
and all equipment when working around multiple horses’ faces and mouths; do not
pet other horses on the nose, then go pet your own horse; never use the same
needle for injections or vaccinations of multiple horses; use a good insect
control spray to protect horses from biting insects. Under the
circumstances, it might even be advisable to carry a spray bottle of stall
disinfectant to horse shows and disinfect stalls before putting your horse in
stalls at show facilities.
