The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) has diagnosed a case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in a horse in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska.

State Veterinarian Dennis Hughes, DVM, said on Friday (Sept. 11) the horse and other livestock on the affected farm have been placed under quarantine.

A viral disease, VS primarily affects horses and cattle, but can also affect sheep, goats, and swine. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) typically harbors in southern Mexico in the winter months, and periodically moves north into the United States. This year, VS-positive horses have been confirmed in several states, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

In affected livestock, VSV causes blister-like lesions to form in the mouth and on the tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, and teats. As a result of the lesions, infected animals may refuse to eat and drink, which leads to severe weight loss