Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Effective Immediately Testing Required for VS Virus in All Race Horses Entering Idaho

IDAHO STATE RACING COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE
700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642
(208) 884-7080
Fax (208) 884-7098

For Immediate Release: 5/5/15 at 1:00 p.m.

Health Requirement - EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

MERIDIAN - The Idaho State Racing Commission has confirmed that Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) has been confirmed in horses in Utah, New Mexico and Arizona in the last week. The exposed facilities in New Mexico and Utah have been placed under quarantine and are under observation. Officials in Arizona have expressed concern that horses who have recently competed on the racetrack where one case of VSV has been confirmed, have been exposed to the virus and may now be traveling to other racetracks.

Effective immediately, the Idaho State Racing Commission and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture is requiring the following for Live Race Meets in Idaho from horses being imported from states where VSV has been diagnosed:

Any livestock (equine, bovine, porcine, caprine, ovine, or cervidae) entering Idaho from a premises where vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed within the last thirty (30) days shall be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection dated within fourteen (14) days of entry containing the following statement:

"All animals identified on this certificate of veterinary inspection have been examined and found to be free from Vesicular Stomatitis. During the last thirty (30) days, these animals have neither been exposed to VS nor located within an area where VS has been diagnosed."

Any horses traveling from a state with a confirmed case of Vesicular Stomatitis MUST call for an entry permit prior to shipment. To obtain an entry permit, contact the Idaho Race Racing Commission Veterinarian, Dr. Scott Leibsle at (208) 608-4719.

Horsemen: Please spread the word and share this IMPORTANT NOTICE and forward this to those on to your e-mail list including all horsemen coming to Idaho to run this summer.

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