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By Miriam Raftery
July 12, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) outbreak in livestock that began in San Diego County in May has now spread to encompass six California counties. One county in Texas also had a single confirmed case on a property that’s been released from quarantine.
Species affected locally includes primarily equine species such as horses, though two local sites have had cattle infected and one San Diego location has had clinically infected rhinoceros.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture does not identify which specific properties or communities have confirmed or suspected cases. ECM has sent an email request to inquire whether the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park may be impacted.
Locally, 31 properties in San Diego County are currently under quarantine, while 37 properties have been released from quarantine. A total of 26 positive cases have been confirmed here, by far the most of any county.
Elsewhere in California, Riverside County has had 7 confirmed cases and currently has 14 properties quarantined. San Bernadino County has 3 confirmed cases and 5 properties quarantined due to actual or suspected cases. Los Angeles County has 4 properties quarantined, but just 1 confirmed case. Orange County has 1 property quarantined and 1 confirmed case.
The good news is that quarantines and other measures implemented appear to be slowing spread of the virus. In the prior week from June 30 to July 7, only 1 new property has been added to the quarantine list in San Diego County, with just 1confirmed new case.
Though not usually fatal, the disease cause severe blister-like lesions on the mouths, hooves and sometimes other areas in livestock including equines such as horses and donkeys, cattle, pigs, sheeps, goats, llamas and others. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control lists several wildlife species that rarely have been confirmed with VSV, including deer, raccoons, rodents, feral pigs, bobcats and now, apparently, rhinoceros.
Animals can contract the disease from bites by black flies, midges, sand flies and possibly other insects and can also spread it through shared water or feed, and through contact with other surfaces.
The disease can spread to humans, but generally causes flu-like symptoms in people such as fever and fatigue.
Facilities should protect livestock through fly control and sanitizing methods to avoid spread of the disease. All suspected cases must be reported and animals with suspected or confirmed cases isolated until no longer contagious.
The disease takes about two weeks to run its course, though lesions can take up to two months to clear up. There is no cure, though treatments are available for infection and to reduce discomfort, since the disease often makes it painful for animals to eat or walk.
For more information, visit these sites.
U.S. Department of Agriculture page on VSV:
USDA latest update on VSV outbreak May 26,2023:
Calfornia Department of Food and Agriculture page on VSV:
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/Animal_Health/VS.html(link is external)
U.S. Equine Foundation information on VSV biosecurity for competitions:
https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/competition-management/competition-safety-biosecurity
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