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Arizona Properties Quarantined After Livestock Virus Hits

Three properties in southern Arizona are under quarantine after an outbreak of a contagious livestock disease. State agriculture officials have confirmed two horses have the virus.

It’s called vesicular stomatitis virus and it can cause blister-like sores on the mouths, noses and feet of infected animals. And it’s now in Santa Cruz County.

Officials said all the animals on the affected properties are under quarantine, even those not showing symptoms. The sick horses have no history of travel.

A state veterinarian said the virus can also affect cows and pigs, but horses are mainly affected.

In rare instances, it can also be spread to humans. There’s no vaccine.

Stina Sieg was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2013 to 2018.