Preventative Procedures: 

I.  No cloven-hoofed animals from a known Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) country or region will be allowed to enter Colorado until six (6) months after the Office of International des Epizooties (OIE) and the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary Services (USDA, APHIS, VS) have declared a country free from FMD.

II. Horses originating from a FMD country will be denied entrance into Colorado either by direct or indirect shipment, i. e., through another state, until six (6) months after the country of origin is declared FMD-free.

III. Companion animals, e. g., cats & dogs, and exotic animals from a known FMD country or region, that originate from rural areas or those that have had contact with cloven-hoofed animals from a known FMD country and are destined for a Colorado rural location or competition involving cloven-hoofed animals will be denied entrance into Colorado, either by direct or indirect shipment. The only exception will be those animals that originate in an FMD country's urban area and are destined to a Colorado urban area.  A prior entry permit will be required on these animals.  The permit must be obtained by calling 303-239-4161, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mountain Time, Monday through Friday.  Such animals will be immediately bathed upon arrival at the premises of destination after a sponge application or heavy misting with a one-to-one vinegar and water solution to the entire body of the animal. In addition the animal must be quarantined to the premises of destination for a minimum of ten (10) days with no cloven-hoofed animal contact for the quarantine period.

A follow up contact will be made by the Colorado State Veterinarian's Office or USDA, APHIS, VS to make sure the quarantine is being maintained. 

IV. Notification of Colorado's FMD preventative measures will be immediately communicated to USDA, APHIS, VS Emergency Programs and Import/Export Staff in Riverdale, MD, and the local and national Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ) staff and airline companies with flights originating from an FMD country or area.  Colorado livestock industry organizations and public livestock markets will be notified of the FMD preventative measures.  Colorado-accredited veterinary practitioners and Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Medicine will be informed of the FMD procedures.  An FMD update will be provided on a periodic basis when a foreign or national FMD outbreak represents a real or perceived risk of FMD to Colorado livestock. 
 
 

Vesicular Disease (FMD) Response:

I.   Vesicular diseases in cloven-hoofed animals will be handled as FMD except if vesicular stomatitis has been previously diagnosed in a horse.  The Colorado vesicular stomatitis protocol will be followed if horses have been diagnosed positive for VS during the typical season for VS.

II.   Vesicular disease in a cloven-hoofed animal will be immediately be given the highest priority to be examined and appropriate specimens will be collected by a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician (FADD).  The FADD or other designated courier will personally transport such specimens to Plum Island, NY.

III.   The premises and all animals on the premises will be quarantined and information provided to the operator about biosecurity, including all visitors.

IV.   A twenty-mile radius "Quarantine Area" will be established that will be comprised of an inner five-mile "High Risk" zone that will be established around the suspect case and an outer fifteen-mile "Buffer Zone" that will be established around the "High Risk" zone. Livestock operators within the "Quarantine Area" will be immediately advised about the suspect case and all premises and animals will be under a hold order pending diagnosis. Movement of all animals in both zones will be restricted to movement by permit only. The main difference between the two zones is that animals will have to be held for a seven-to-fourteen-day observation period in the "High Risk" zone before movement is allowed.

V.  All area slaughter/packing facilities, livestock auctions, and markets will be closed until there is a laboratory confirmation that the vesicular disease is not Foot and Mouth disease.  If Foot and Mouth disease is confirmed, the markets will remain closed as needed to control the movement of livestock.

VI.   Veterinary practitioners, cooperative extension agents, and public livestock operators will be notified of the hold order.

VII.   If the diagnosis is not FMD and is in the "High Risk" zone, hold orders will be immediately released.

VIII.   An FMD diagnosis would result in a continued quarantine of the "High Risk" premises and animals. The animals within the "Buffer Zone" will be on a hold order and vaccinated with appropriate FMD strain vaccine, if it is available.

IX.   Epidemiology investigation will be initiated immediately upon notification of a positive FMD diagnosis. The epidemiology efforts will be in concert with USDA, APHIS, VS.

X.   Upon arrival in Colorado USDA, APHIS, VS, Regional Emergency Animal Disease Eradication Organization (READEO) would be in charge of all FMD operations and procedures with State animal health officials assisting them in their efforts.

XI.   Immediately the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture will be advised of the FMD diagnosis and requested to contact the Colorado Governor for an emergency declaration.  National Guard personnel, Colorado State Patrol, and the County Sheriff will be requested to aid in enforcement of the quarantines and zone integrity to avoid movement of animals and minimize human ingress and egress of the FMD zones.

XII.   FMD vaccination will be the preferred action over depopulation.  In the case of depopulation, incineration sites will be identified to minimize negative environmental impacts.

XII.  Indemnity for depopulated animals will be sought from the United States Secretary of Agriculture.  Records of depopulated animals will include the owner's name, address, phone number, a count of the depopulated animals, species, class, sex, age and brands, if branded.  Lending agencies will be notified when indemnity is paid.
 
 

Appendix I

These rules currently apply to the European Union* (EU). In addition to the above rules, the rules specifically include the following: 

1.  Horses originating from all EU countries will be denied entry into Colorado until the country's FMD status is determined to the satisfaction of the Colorado State Veterinarian.

2.  Companion animals originating from rural areas in all EU countries, or those that have had contact with cloven-hoofed animals, will be denied entry into Colorado until the countries FMD status is determined to the satisfaction of the Colorado State Veterinarian

*EU countries are The Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Mann), Sweden, Finland, Austria, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Luxembourg, and Greece.