Rodeo Checking for Livestock Virus

An outbreak of an aggressive virus that attacks livestock and horses is spreading through New Mexico, and it nearly caused the cancellation of the 63rd annual Rodeo de Santa Fe.

The rodeo’s veterinarian, Dr. Andy Cameron, said the rodeo grounds were closed two weeks prior to the event, which began Wednesday, to help ensure that traces of vesicular stomatitis, or VS, would not be present once animals were allowed back onto the premises.

The virus causes blister-like lesions, which may occur on the mouth, hooves, nostrils or sometimes genitals of horses and livestock, including goats, cattle, sheep, llamas, alpacas and swine. While rare, humans can also become infected with the disease when handling affected animals.

“There was a threat that the (Rodeo de Santa Fe) would be canceled, which is why we closed the grounds and instituted some protocols,” Cameron said. “We wanted to make sure that the animals arriving here are safe, while not wanting to spread this further.

“We could have one horse come in that’s infected. If he spreads it to five different horses and they all go on to five different rodeos – that’s how the virus gets around. And this time of year, there’s a lot of traveling within the rodeo community.

“While outbreaks aren’t uncommon – they happen every six to seven years – with this one, it’s really about the timing.”

Bright red signs have been posted at all but one entry point to the rodeo grounds, instructing contestants that livestock and horses are forbidden from entering. Participants are allowed onto the rodeo grounds only through a checkpoint at the north gate, where health certificates for the animals must be presented. Each animal’s certificate must be written within five days, as VS has a two- to eight-day incubation period, Cameron said.

“It’s not fatal, but the sores in the horse’s mouth can cause them to stop feeding and drinking water,” he said. “The animals require a lot of care to get over it – and a lot of them do. But dehydration and malnutrition certainly could kill them.

“A major issue is that if VS infects a milk-producing herd, it could … shut down a dairy.”

Another major concern, he added, is that the symptoms of VS are similar to hoof-and-mouth disease, which has been eradicated from the U.S. since 1929.

Currently, San Miguel and Socorro counties became the latest in New Mexico to report and quarantine suspected VS cases, according to a statement issued by the New Mexico Livestock Board. Earlier this month, the virus was found in Valencia County, where a total of nine premises remain under quarantine for suspected or confirmed cases of VS. The first confirmed case in New Mexico this year was in Otero County in April, but no additional cases have been confirmed there.

New Mexico is currently the only state reporting cases of VS, according to the Livestock Board.

Although there have been no suspected cases in Santa Fe County, the area is considered “high risk.” Still, while word has been circulating throughout the state since the first reported case, Cameron is afraid some people may still not have heard about the disease’s presence.

“For the most part, people are aware,” he said. “But even last night at the rodeo, I’ve spoken with some people who still had no idea.”

Cameron added that roughly a dozen rodeo participants and contestants so far have been turned away after failing to provide current health certificates for their horses and livestock. The Rodeo de Santa Fe concludes tonight.