The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Animal Industry, announced to the state’s practitioners on Aug. 18 that it has modified livestock import restrictions due to the recent detection of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in Wyoming. Officials have increased restrictions on any livestock imported into Florida that have been in an active VS state in the past 30 days.

The requirements are stated in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rule 5C-3 and read as follows:

(5) Vesicular Stomatitis-Affected States.

(a) Certification for Vesicular Stomatitis (VS). All hoofed animals, including horses, ruminants, swine, exotic and wild hoofed animals originating from a VS-affected state must be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) which includes the following statement: “All animals susceptible to vesicular stomatitis (VS) identified and included in this OCVI for shipment have been examined and found to be free from clinical signs and vectors of VS and have not been exposed to the VS virus and have not been within 10 miles of a VS-infected premises within the last 30 days.” Documentation must also accompany the animals to show that the animals have been tested and found negative by an approved test for VS within the previous 10 days.
(b) Prior Permission. Animals originating from a VS-affected state, entering Florida, will require prior permission

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