Office of the Kentucky State Veterinarian

Office of State Veterinarian

• Protect the health and welfare of Kentucky's livestock, poultry and agricultural industries
• Promote an environment that enhances the economic and recreational opportunities and prosperity of Kentucky agriculture

 

 

Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM)
Updated 3/18/2016 -Racing Jurisdictions

EHM is also commonly referred as Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 Neurologic form

PAYSON PARK (Florida) – Equine meeting requirements qualify for entry onto KY Tracks

With the population of exposed horses testing negative after 14 days from last identified or suspected opportunity of exposure – horses departing Payson Park are now permitted entry onto a KY track or sanctioned training facility when meeting the established health requirements of valid CVI issued within 72hrs of entry and includes the required EHV vaccination information, and negative EIA test certification. 

 

PLEASE DO NOTE – The CVI qualifying the horse for entry is to have been issued by a licensed and accredited veterinarian who does have factual knowledge of the horse’s current health status and the prior stabling environment – Meaning, the certification should not be made at the time of arrival to the back gate.  In the event a horse does arrive that fails to meet the requirements – the responsible party (transporter, trainer, agent etc.) will be required to initiate action needed to obtain the factual certifications.

 

SUNLAND PARK (New Mexico) – KY restrictions remain in place

Our understanding is that the New Mexico Livestock Board did last week release the quarantines in place at Sunland Park.  The release was apparently based on visual observations and monitoring occurring the previous 14 days with no evidence of illness reported to regulatory officials.

Appreciating the number of cases in a significant number of barns on the grounds having confirmed cases, and lacking any diagnostic testing of the exposed horses – The KY Department of Agriculture continues to consider horses with a recent history of being on the grounds at Sunland, do pose elevated risk of disease threat and are not to be allowed entry onto a Kentucky race track or sanctioned training facility until certification can be issued that they have been off the grounds a minimum of 30 days. 

Our plan is to reevaluate the risk and will make notification when it is determined that the horses currently restricted could qualify for entry.

 

Kentucky Poultry Ban UPDATE - 2/11/2016

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) Office of the State Veterinarian (OSV) will relax the currently imposed restrictions on poultry movement on February 22, 2016.

 

Previously issued Commingled Sales Event permits will be valid for the issued timeframe. Organizers with previously issued permits will be allowed to conduct commingled sales events based on the original issue date.

 

The KDA OSV will continue to monitor the threat to Kentucky poultry from Avian Influenza and other diseases and amend the movement restrictions as necessary.

 

Please comply with the movement requirements implemented below.

1. Sale of poultry at licensed livestock markets may resume on February 22, 2016. All sales shall be in compliance with KRS 261 and 302 KAR 20:070.
2. Sale of poultry at unlicensed commingling sales venues such as swap meets and flea markets and sales at shows are allowed with the following requirements:
   a. An individual or business conducting unlicensed commingling poultry sales shall obtain a permit   from the Kentucky Office of the State Veterinarian no later than 30 days prior to the event. Permits shall be issued at no fee.
   b. The permittee shall be responsible to:

i. Maintain a registry of all participants in the commingling sales event. This registry must include (at a minimum) the name, address from which the animals were moved, and contact information of the participant (consignor).

ii. Maintain records of sales and barters of all animals sold or exchanged at the event. Records must include the name, address, and contact information of the consignor and consignee.

iii. Submit to the Office of the State Veterinarian a report of all participants and animal exchanges no later than 7 days after the event. The Poultry Record of Sales form will be provided by the Office of the State Veterinarian and is available on the KY OSV website at http://www.kyagr.com/statevet/livestock-and-poultry.html.

   c. KDA personnel shall have access to the venue to conduct inspection of all animals for health and regulatory compliance.
3. Private sale with direct farm to farm movement within Kentucky is allowed in accordance with 302 KAR 20:065.
4. Entry of non-commercial/backyard (NC/BY) poultry into Kentucky for sale is restricted to NPIP Avian Influenza H5/H7 clean facilities only; entry from facilities within a HPAI control zone is banned.
5. Entry of Non Commercial/Backyard poultry from certified NPIP facilities within an HPAI infected state shall meet 302 KAR 20:250 requirements.
6. Entry of Non Commercial/Backyard poultry for private sale or movement shall be in compliance with 302 KAR 20:040.
7. Game bird/waterfowl permit applications shall originate from a NPIP facility that meets the requirements listed in 4 and 5 of this memo. Additionally, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources requires a transportation permit obtained from them.
8. Exhibition events, shows, and fairs will be open to out of state participants. Entry from out of state shall be in compliance with 302 KAR 20:040. All birds presented for exhibition shall be subject to inspection by Kentucky Department of Agriculture personnel.

Sincerely,
Robert C. Stout, DVM
State Veterinarian/Executive Director

 

Vesicular Stomatitis (2015) - Updated 5/21/2015

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has no Vesicular stomatitis restrictions nor any additional testing requirements resulting from the diagnosis of vesicular stomatitis being diagnosed in other states.  Premises which are identified as affected will be placed under movement restrictions by the appropriate regulatory officials in the affected state.  We recognize those efforts as having been proven effective in helping to mitigate risk to our populations and industry.

States previously or currently having premises quarantined

 

- Texas
On May 18, 2015, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed a finding of VSV infection (New Jersey serotype) on an equine premises in Pecos County, Texas.  This is the 2015 index case of VSV for Texas.  Additional confirmed and suspect VSV premises have been identified in both Arizona and New Mexico in known affected counties. 

 

- Utah
As of May 14, 2015, all VSV-confirmed and suspect premises have been released from quarantine in Utah.

- New Mexico

On April 29, 2015, USDA issued advisory stating vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection has been confirmed in Grant County, New Mexico and that a second premises (Otero County, New Mexico) has a suspect case pending.

 

- Arizona and Utah
On May 4, 2015, USDA issued advisory stating vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection had been confirmed in Maricopa County, Arizona and Kane County, Utah. 

 

click for USDA's Most Recent VS Update

 

Contact the USDA

The USDA Import Number (Animals coming into Kentucky from another country) is 301-851-3300.  The email address is:  VS.Live.Animal.Import.Export@aphis.usda.gov

• For information on exporting animals out of the country contact USDA Veterinary Services
  at 502-848-2040.
• The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP)

  The VMLRP will pay up to $25,000 each year towards qualified educational loans of eligible veterinarians who agree to serve in a NIFA designated veterinarian shortage situations for a period of three years.

  The Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Office of the State Veterinarian is requested in the early part of each year to make the shortage area nominations for the State and to designate the type of shortage (Type I, Type II or Type III) for each area. These nominations are reviewed by the NIFA program and all or a portion of the areas will be approved and posted on the NIFA site listed above. Once the areas are designated veterinarians make application directly to NIFA to fill one of the designated areas. There are specific deadlines for applications that are listed on the NIFA site each year.