08/16/2023
The most current VSV situation report is attached, with summary below, that includes one newly confirmed equine premises in Fresno County. The following information has also been shared with equine and livestock veterinarians, for your situational awareness as well.
**Please take a moment to review the following IMPORTANT information, and share widely with clients and colleagues as appropriate:**
VSV Case Sampling, Lab Submissions, and Reporting:
ü Online VSV case reporting and VSV sampling guidance is posted on the CDFA VSV website, in addition to a focal map of current VSV-affected areas in California that is updated at least weekly.
ü Equine VSV suspects (equids with compatible vesicular lesions) in known VSV-affected counties DO NOT require testing for confirmation, and the cost for confirmatory testing of equine VSV suspects in affected counties is at the owner or veterinarian’s expense. All suspect cases, regardless of testing status, must be promptly reported to CDFA and/or USDA (contact information attached again for easy reference), and can be quarantined based on clinical presentation alone.
o Mandatory VSV quarantines will be in place for a minimum of fourteen (14) days from the date of ONSET of last known vesicular lesions. Quarantine release is dependent on verification of no additional clinical or compatible signs of any susceptible animal on a quarantined premises, and criteria for release will be evaluated no less than 14 days from onset of last clinical lesions.
ü As of Monday, August 21st, any equine VSV suspect samples from known VSV-affected counties (Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego Counties as of 8/15/23) will be billed to the submitting veterinarian or clinic.
o VSV testing can ONLY be performed at an approved laboratory; the CAHFS Laboratory is the only VSV approved laboratory in California approved to test equine samples in addition to NVSL. The cost for the equine VSV testing panel at the CAHFS Laboratory is ~$90, not including shipping.
o Only submissions from accredited veterinarians will be accepted.
o All VSV suspects MUST have an assigned VSV special ID, which will be assigned by CDFA after prompt reporting of the case. Lack of a VSV special ID on a submission form may result in processing delays and impede timely reporting of results.
o Please ensure the CAHFS laboratory submission form (attached again for quick reference) is filled out completely and accurately, and the actual physical location of the suspect animal(s) is accurately reported on both the submission form and when using the online case reporting system. Incomplete or inaccurate information may delay sample processing and hinder disease mitigation efforts.
o ONLY ANIMALS WITH COMPATIBLE CLINICAL LESIONS should be sampled and submitted for testing.
ü Any VSV suspect equids in currently unaffected counties must be promptly reported to CDFA and/or USDA and DO require testing for VSV confirmation,,. Testing of VSV equine suspects in new counties will be billed as regulatory submissions and not charged to the submitting clinic.
ü Any non-equid VSV suspect species must be reported to CDFA or USDA immediately and sampled by a regulatory veterinarian given the concern for clinical similarities to Foreign Animal Diseases (FADs) such as Foot and Mouth Disease.
VSV Surveillance and Monitoring:
ü Continue to be highly vigilant and promote VSV awareness in ALL areas of the state, including previously affected areas that have not recently confirmed new cases, as well as currently naïve areas. The fly vectors remain active and present in California, and migration patterns are challenging to predict given our unprecedented weather patterns.
ü PREVENTION IS CRITICAL. Please talk to your clients frequently during this outbreak period and ensure equine and livestock owners are taking the risk of infection and exposure seriously, and implementing enhanced fly control in addition to routine biosecurity best practices to the best of their abilities.
ü Infection with or exposure to VSV does NOT produce protective antibodies or immunity in any susceptible species. This is an unfortunate truth that underlies the lack of a currently effective vaccine. Previously infected animals CAN be reinfected if the flies carrying the virus remain present in the area. VSV-exposed animals may have antibodies for many years following exposure or infection, but positive serology alone does not indicate active infection or protection.
ü Reminder: Mandatory VSV quarantines for any susceptible species will be in place for a minimum of fourteen (14) days from the date of ONSET of last known vesicular lesions. Quarantine release is dependent on verification of no additional clinical or compatible signs of any susceptible animal on a quarantined premises, and criteria for release will be evaluated no less than 14 days from onset of last clinical lesions.
Thank you for all your efforts every day – you are the eyes and ears of our animal industry in the field, and your VSV response efforts in addition to your daily responsibilities are invaluable.
Best,
Emily
VSV Situation Report 8/15/2023 Briefing (See full report attached for maps and additional information)
Since the last situation report (8/8/2023), there have been 12 new VSV-affected equine premises identified (3 confirmed positive, 9 suspect) in California, including a new affected county, Fresno County, California. All confirmed cases have been vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) serotype. Updates are as follows:
California
· Fresno County (New Infected County) – 1 confirmed positive equine premises
· San Luis Obispo County – 1 new confirmed positive and 2 new suspect equine premises
· Santa Barbara County – 1 new confirmed positive and 2 new suspect equine premises
· Ventura County – 5 new suspect equine premises
· Since the last situation report (8/8/2023), the following previously confirmed positive or suspect premises have been released from quarantine: 1 premises in Los Angeles County, 3 premises in Riverside County, 11 premises in San Diego County, 3 premises in San Luis Obispo County, 1 premises in Santa Barbara County, and 16 premises in Ventura County.
Nevada
· No new confirmed positive premises have been identified.
· Since the last situation report (8/8/2023), 1 previously confirmed positive premises was released from quarantine in White Pine County.
Texas
· No new confirmed positive premises have been identified.
Since the start of the outbreak (5/17/2023), 189 VSV-affected premises have been identified (65 confirmed positive, 124 suspect) in 3 states, California, Nevada, and Texas. One hundred eighty-six (186) of these premises have had only equine species clinically affected, two (2) premises have had clinically affected cattle (San Diego County, California), and one (1) premises has had clinically affected rhinoceros (San Diego County, California).
California has identified 186 affected premises (62 confirmed positive, 124 suspect) in 9 counties (Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties). Texas identified 2 affected premises (2 confirmed positive) in 2 counties (Maverick and Shackelford Counties). Nevada identified 1 affected premises (1 confirmed positive) in 1 county (White Pine County, Nevada).
Of the 189 total VSV-affected premises, 141 premises have completed the quarantine period with no new clinical cases and have been released from quarantine. Forty-eight (48) premises remain quarantined.
Additional information and maps of the affected area are contained in the attached situation report. The situation report is posted publicly on the APHIS website and accessible at the following link:
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