Kentucky officials have prohibited the entry of all livestock, wild and exotic animals into the Commonealth from Grant County, N.M. Vesicular stomatitis was confirmed yesterday (April 27) in a horse in Grant County, and one other horse portrayed clinical signs of the disease. Kentucky’s Administrative Regulation 302 KAR 20:115 prohibits entry of such animals from VS-affected and -embargoed areas.

In addition, all livestock (including horses), wild and exotic animals originating from the non-embargoed areas of New Mexico are required to meet the following conditions prior to entering Kentucky.

1. Be tested and found negative to vesicular stomatitis using the C-Elisa test. This testing is offered only at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
   
2. Have recorded on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection a permit for entry issued by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian’s Office. Permits may be obtained by calling 502/564-3956 during the normal business hours of 8:00 am 4:30 pm EDT Monday through Friday.
   
3. Animals listed on The Certificate of Veterinary Inspection must be examined and the certificate issued during the 10-day period prior to the animal’s arrival in Kentucky, with the following certification statement included on the certificate:

“Animals represented on this certificate of veterinary inspection have not originated from a premise or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis or a premise on which vesicular stomatitis has been diagnosed in the past thirty (30) days or from the area of New Mexico restricted from entry into Kentucky, as designated this date.  I have examined the animals and have found no signs of vesicular stomatitis.”

The regulations further require that all equids entering Kentucky from the bordering state of Arizona be tested and found negative to an official test for VS before entering Kentucky. The sampling shall be conducted during the 10-day period prior to the animal’s entry into Kentucky