New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health

Memo

To: Veterinarians and Agricultural Related Industries

From: State Veterinarian Nancy E. Halpern, DVM

Date: June 20, 2005

Re: Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) Update: Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas

         As of June 17, 2005, Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) has been confirmed in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. All of the cases have been in horses although other livestock have been located on the various quarantined premises. Therefore all livestock traveling from these states must acquire a pre-entry permit prior to entering into New Jersey. This includes livestock that originally reside in NJ and travel to these states for shows, fairs, sales, races, etc.

     Permits will be granted only for those animals that are accompanied by an approved Certificate of Veterinary Inspection which includes a statement that:

• The animals have been examined and found free of evidence of vesicular stomatitis;
• During the 30 days prior to shipment, the animals have not been within 10 miles of any premise on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed within 60 days;
• The animals have not been exposed to any animal which has been vaccinated with vesicular stomatitis vaccine, of any kind, within the last 30 days; and
• The animals must have a negative test (CELISA, CF, SN) for vesicular stomatitis performed by an approved laboratory within 10 days of shipment.