“We receive a lot of suspected rabies cases, both domestic and wild, including a lot of skunks and raccoons,” said lab director Guillermo Risatti. “But also lately, we have been receiving more bats, and some of them are carrying the virus.”
Read the full article on the Wildlife Society website.
Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) has a confirmed diagnosis of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in a 14-year-old mare located in Tolland County at a private facility. CVMDL has the capacity to test clinical samples (nasal swabs and complete blood) for EHV-1 using a combination of PCR followed by sequencing. Please contact us at cvmdl@uconn.edu for more information.
The Equine Disease Communication Center has an Equine Herpesvirus factsheet. Please see the following frequently asked questions below:
EHV is spread from horse to horse through contact with nasal discharge or spread as aerosol droplets. Horses can also contract the virus by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces such as stalls, water, feed, tack, and transport vehicles. Humans can spread the virus from horse to horse by contaminated hands and clothing.
Fever, nasal discharge, lethargy/depression, neonatal death, late-term abortion, and neurologic disease
Vaccinations are available for prevention of the respiratory and abortive form of EHV-1 and EHV-4; there is currently no vaccine labeled for the prevention of the neurologic form of EHV (EHM). The best method of protection is always to maintain current vaccinations on all horses on your property and to follow correct biosecurity protocol when bringing new horses onto your premises or when traveling with your horse.
EHV is spread via aerosol particles from nasal discharge or from contaminated surfaces including people, clothing, feed and water, implements, and stalls; isolation is critical to preventing spread of the virus. Proper biosecurity measures include extensive disinfection of surfaces and equipment that come in contact with affected horses.
Please view the factsheet for more information.
Avian Influenza was confirmed in one non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Connecticut. The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, part of UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources tested the birds in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Surveillance and testing are ongoing in Connecticut to quickly identify and contain any future cases. The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) conducts all tests at the laboratory in Storrs and informs the state veterinarian. Connecticut is home to over five million poultry consisting of backyard and commercial flocks that could be affected by the disease outbreak. Please visit our Avian Influenza page for more information and resources.