Although a few horses on a property may be symptomatic and confirmed positive, 70% of the remaining asymptomatic horses have antibody titers showing exposure to the virus. However, the titers are non-protective from the virus, that’s why there’s no vaccine.
The USEF/USDA webinar on May 31 was really informative. Slides from the presentation are here (scroll down for the pdf). [https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/competition-management/competition-safety-biosecuritym]
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I’ve watched the webinar. Yes, well aware the titers are non-protective from the virus, which is why a horse could (theoretically) get it over and over again, fortunately we’ve not seen that yet. Also wanted to add that horses are only infectious while they have active (oozing) vesicles, usually that’s a fairly short period of time. I’ve known multiple premises now where only one or two are infected out of a large population.
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I heard yesterday that there’s now a case at Foxfield. So it’s in Ventura County now, too.
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Well, we’re seeing a lot of unnecessary panic, reason for my comment. Lots of misinformation out there and rules being placed that really aren’t helping. Absolutely follow the state guidelines and hope for the best, it’s all we can do. Primarily it’s been horses that have been infected, have not heard of any significant impact to livestock farmers just yet. Hopefully that will hold true. Honestly, other than fly control, there’s really not much we can do. Don’t move a suspected/infected horse where he/she can contact others while vesicles are still active and oozing. Other than that, we just wait to see how this develops.
Apart from the agricultural impacts, which I assume have so far not been significant as most of the places where its being found amongst horses are either suburbia or crop growing areas rather than animal production areas, and we’d prefer it to stay that way, zoonotic viruses should always be a cause for concern. I think we’ve learned a few things about virus mutation in the past few years.
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So actually where this virus began in eastern San Diego county is very rural and there are a lot of cattle ranchers there. The one quarantined facility in Orange County is also in the very rural part with a lot of cattle in the area. The economic impacts (and the fact it crosses over to humans so it is a zoonotic) is why it is reportable.
Having said that, I think the measures that are being taken at say Los Angeles Equestrian Center (I do not board there , full disclosure) are a little extreme and don’t seem science based.
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IMHO LAEC is being especially careful because of the large amount of horses living in the area.
There are about 15-20 trainers at LAEC, and the horses live in close proximity to each other, so it’s crowded. Riding schools and horse rental places are nearby. No one wants the horses to get sick (painful for them plus vet bills for owners) nor would they want the entire facility, or other riding business to be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days. 
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What are they doing ?
With apologies if I missed the answer upthread.
While I’m here, it is possible to get a map via the CDFA VS website (https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/VS.html) that shows the cities where there are affected premises. It’s not the most intuitive thing bc you have to scroll past at least one scroll box all the way to the bottom of the page.
Direct link - https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/Animal_Health/docs/VSV_Confirmed_and_Suspected_Case_Areas_Map.pdf
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Thanks for the link to the map. It really shows the movement of the virus.
Fair enough, and that is super valid.
It just seemed to me that they have a “one size fits all” biosecurity protocol that was really developed for EHV-1 not VSV, but it is better to be safe that sorry. And yes the economic impact would be huge on the area if all those facilities become quarantined.
Here is the email from LA Equestrian Center. However, maybe they were smart as now there is suspect EHV-1 in Orange County sigh (that probably deserves its own post).
Since this email, there have been 1 case in Los Angeles County. As of the June 30 situation report: Orange County remains at 1 case, LA 1, Ventura 1 and the inland Southern California counties (where it is hotter and more rural and perhaps more susceptible to these gnats/flies/midges): San Bernardino 3, Riverside 7, San Diego 25. And the facility in Texas has been released from quarantine.
FROM LOS ANGELES EQUESTRIAN CENTER:
June 8, 2023
TO: LAEC Boarders and Trainers
SUBJECT: CDFA 060623 Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) update and LAEC facility protocols
LAEC has been in communication with the CDFA on the status and recommendations to follow regarding the VSV situation. The links below are the USDA and CDFA June 6th updates.
[USDA VSV 060623 Update]
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/VS.html
Although there are no confirmed cases of VSV in Los Angeles County , we are asking all boarders and trainers to follow the recommendations and guidance from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for both VSV and EHV including following these enhanced equine biosecurity measures at LAEC:
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Before and after you transport horses to or from LAEC, ensure that your horse trailer is cleaned and disinfected
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Use fly control methods to reduce the flies in the barns and on your horse(s)
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Boarded horses at LAEC that have traveled away from LAEC and are returning will be required to have a health certificate issued within the past 7 days
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Avoid horse to horse contact
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Avoid human to horse contact other than your own horse
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Do not allow your horse to drink from a common water source
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Keep your horse at a distance from other horses while grazing
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No horses may travel between other boarding barns (each horse must remain in its own boarding barn)
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Guest Ride-On permission is temporarily postponed
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Only ride or exercise your horse in a designated riding and training area
In addition, LAEC is asking all owners and trainers to continue or begin taking your horse temperature twice daily. Immediately report any elevated temperature of 101.5 or greater to your veterinarian and LAEC Stabling Department, Dale Perkins - (818) 535-2370.
If you, your grooms, or hired individuals who are feeding or caring for your horse(s) have a need to travel from one barn to another, it is your responsibility to ensure you, or your person sanitizes between each barn area. Sanitizing includes washing of hands and disinfecting any equipment moving between barns.
If you see visitors in the boarding barn areas, please inform them that all boarding barn areas are restricted areas for boarders only. Ask them to please vacate the barn area.
LAEC will start an increased fly prevention program including daily fogging and spraying. Also, the fly spray systems around the property will be activated and set for additional spray times each day. If you identify any areas that need additional attention for fly control, please contact the LAEC Stable Manager.
We appreciate your patience and practice of good equine biosecurity.
For more information on equine biosecurity go to the CDFA website at www.CDFA.ca.gov If there is a VSV status change in Los Angeles County, LAEC will send another update.
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And VSV has now reached Santa Barbara and SLO counties. Damn it.
