Spreading Livestock Disease a Big Concern in North Dakota
A livestock disease that's spread from southern states to as far north as South Dakota has officials concerned in North Dakota, where vesicular stomatitis hasn't been diagnosed for eight decades.
Infected horses and cattle have been found this year in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona and South Dakota. South Dakota now has 13 confirmed or suspected cases, after not having a case for more than 30 years.
The disease is rarely fatal but can cause economic hardship for animal owners. North Dakota's Board of Animal Health has implemented expanded requirements for livestock imports from states with the disease.
South Dakota did the same earlier but it didn't keep the disease out of that state. Officials are stressing good sanitation and biosecurity measures to help prevent a widespread outbreak.
