Sixty properties along the Front Range are currently under quarantine because of a virus mainly affecting horses. An outbreak of vesicular stomatitis began in Colorado in July, but as warm temperatures persist into the fall, the flies that carry the virus keep breeding.
The virus causes painful blisters and sores around the mouth and nose of the affected animal and occasionally around the foot. Without treatment animals can die.
"The area between Denver and Fort Collins, initially that's where we saw most of our cases," said State veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr. "And now we're seeing some movement to the south, to the east and some even as far south as La Junta there are new cases."
Pueblo County now has the most properties quarantined with 23 as of Oct. 22.
Recommendations to livestock owners from the include keeping fly populations in check, avoiding the transfer of feeding equipment, cleaning tools or health care equipment from other herds, and watching livestock for signs of infection.
"Winter can't come soon enough," said Dr. Roehr. "My hope is that realistically probably early to mid-December we should be able to release the last of those premises that are under quarantine."
from entering without a clean bill of health. It's been nine years since the last significant outbreak in Colorado. Since the 2014 outbreak began, there have been 334 quarantined properties statewide. Larimer and Weld counties have had the most cases overall.
