No new positive premises have been identified since Nov. 30 in the United States. If no new cases occur by the end of January 1996, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service officials will consider the 1995 vesicular stomatitis epidemic to be over. However, in the early 1980's when VS last occurred in the United States, new cases appeared in the spring months following the epidemic, suggesting that the virus can survive the winter. Also, this disease has been known to spread during winter months by animal to animal contact. Livestock producers are encouraged to stay vigilant through at least the first half of 1996.
Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease that can affect horses, swine, cattle, and other ruminants.
It causes affected animals to develop blisters in the mouth and on the dental pads, hooves, and teats. These blisters swell and break, leaving raw tissue that causes affected animals to become lame and to refuse food and water.