Two Dozen Cases Of Animal Virus Confirmed in Colorado

A disease that affects cattle and horses has been confirmed in Colorado.

The virus, known as vesicular stomatitis seems to be affecting cattle and horses and those animals that have been identified with it have been quarantined.

The symptoms of the virus, which can also affect other animals like pigs and sheep as well as goats and llamas range from excessive salivation to a lack of appetite, lameness, and lesions around the hooves and mouth as well as the udder on cows.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture suggests if you see any animals with these or other symptoms you immediately separate it from the rest of the animals and contact a veterinarian. The virus has occasionally been mistaken for hoof and mouth disease and may end up having the hooves come off, but is not considered lethal.

While the virus can affect the animals, it rarely has an effect on humans.