Animal Importations Paul Arguin, MD Zoonoses Team Lead

Animal Importations Paul Arguin, MD Zoonoses Team Lead

Summary of CDC Animal Authority Nonhuman Primates - Permit is required and importer must be registered - Quarantine for 31 days - Can only be brought in for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes; not as pets Bats, African Rodents, Civets, & Asian Birds - Permit is required - Cannot be brought in for commercial purposes Turtles < 4 inch shell length - Individuals can bring in up to 6 without permit - Cannot be brought in for commercial purposes. Dogs & Cats - Can be inspected and required to have proof of rabies vaccination

Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Import Activity Status Report, 2003 Tom DeMarcus Division of Global Migration and Quarantine

NHP Importation Trends Number of NHPs imported 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 Total = 265,521 Mean = 13,276 1981-1990 mean = 16,731 1991-2000 mean = 9,821 0 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 Fiscal Year of Importation 4

FY03 CDC-Registered Importers of NHPs (Total of 30) 8 commercial importers 7 zoos 4 regional primate research centers 5 universities 6 private research facilities 5

Current Program Review new and renewal registration applications, facility diagrams, and standard operating procedures Inspect new facilities prior to registration Issue registration letters Review special permit import plans Issue special permits 6

FY94-03 NHP Imports, All Species 20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03

Exotic Animal Regulations USDA STATUTES Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA) (2002) 7 USC 8301 Animal Welfare Act (AWA) (1966) 7 USC 2131 Animal Damage Control Act (ADCA) (1931) 7 USC 426 & 426c SCOPE Pest or disease of livestock Exhibitors, dealers, handlers of non-livestock animals Nuisance animals; Reservoir Zoonotic Disease ACTIONS Surveillance, Inspection, Detention, Quarantine, Destruction, Remedial Action Recordkeeping; Licensing; Inspection Surveillance Destruction

Exotic Animal Regulations FWS STATUTES SCOPE ACTIONS Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 16 USC 3371 et seq. 50 CFR Pt 16 Lacey Act (1900) 18 USC 42 Endangered Species Act (1973) 16 USC 1538d Wildlife; Violation of federal, state, local or foreign laws Injurious animals Endangered species Inspection; Destruction; Enforcement Destruction Enforcement Enforcement

Exotic Animal Regulations DHS and DOT STATUTES Tariff Act of 1930 19 USC 1499; 19 USC 1595a; 18 USC 545; 19 CFR Pt 151 SCOPE Import prohibited by law ACTIONS Inspection; Seizure; Destruction; Enforcement Federal HazMat Transport Law (1994) 49 USC 5101 et seq. 49 CFR Pts 171-180 180 Hazardous materials Approval for transport of infected animals; Enforce

Exotic Animal Regulations HHS STATUTES Public Health Service Act (1942) 42 USC 264; 21 CFR 1240; 42 CFR Pts 70 & 71 SCOPE Prevention of communicable diseases affecting human health ACTIONS Public Health Surveillance; Inspection; Detention; Quarantine; Destruction; Enforcement (FDA) Intrastate; Interstate; Import (CDC)

A New Infectious Disease Outbreak NEJM 350:4, 1-221 22-04

The Washington Post, June 9, 2003

TX-2 GR Rodent Shipment from Accra, Ghana? 4/9/03 TX-1** 50 Gambian giant rats (GR) 53 rope squirrels (RS) 2 brushtail porcupines (BP) 47 tree squirrels (TS) 100 striped mice (SM) ~510 dormice () 4/17/03 4/9/03 NJ RS, BP TS, SM 4/11/03 4/16/03 TX-3 RS, SM IA GR, Movement of Imported African Rodents to Animal Distributors and Distribution of Prairie Dogs from an Animal Distributor Associated with Human Cases of Monkeypox* 4/21/03 IL-1 GR, WI Human cases: 17 confirmed 22 probable/ suspect 42 PDs traced IL Human cases: 8 confirmed 4 probable/ suspect 14 PDs traced 24 PDs traced IN Human cases: 7 confirmed 9 probable/ suspect 4/26/03 TX-4? TX-5 4/28/03 200 prairie dogs (PDs) at facility 1 PD traced 1 PD traced MO Human cases: 2 confirmed TX-6 TS, SM TX-7 TX-8 5/18/03 4/28/03 4/29/03 TX-9 TX-10 5/12/03 IL-2 11 PDs traced MI No human cases SC No human cases KS Human cases: 1 confirmed *As of July 8, 2003. Does not include one probable human case from Ohio; investigation ongoing. **Identified as distributor C in MMWR 2003;52:561-4. Identified as distributor D in MMWR 2003;52:561-4. Identified as distributor B in MMWR 2003;52:561-4. Includes 2 persons who were employees at IL-1? - date of shipment unknown Japan MN 6/1/03 6/5/03 WI

IL-1

Exotics Trade Show / Swap Meet, Georgia 2003

TX 2 GR Rodent Shipment from Accra, Ghana? 4/9/03 TX 1** 50 Gambian rats (GR) 53 rope squirrels (RS) 2 brush-tailed porcupines (BTP) 47 sun squirrels (SS) 100 striped mice (SM) ~510 dormice () 4/9/03 4/11/03 4/16/03 Movement of Imported African Rodents to Animal Distributors and Distribution of Prairie Dogs from Point of Infection NJ RS, BTP SS TX 3 RS, SM 4/17/03 IA GR, 4/21/03 IL 1 GR, WI Human cases: 17 confirmed 22 probable/ suspect 42 PDs traced IL Human cases: 8 confirmed 4 probable/ suspect 14 PDs traced 24 PDs traced IN Human cases: 7 confirmed 9 probable/ suspect 4/26/03 TX 4? TX 5 4/28/03 200 prairie dogs (PDs) in existing inventory 1 PD traced 1 PDs traced MO Human cases: 2 confirmed TX 6 SS, SM TX 7 TX 8 5/18/03 4/28/03 4/29/03 TX 9 TX 10 5/12/03 IL 2 11 PDs traced MI No human cases SC No human cases KS Human cases: 1 confirmed Japan MN 6/1/03 6/1/03 WI

Live Animal Importation - 2002 47,000 mammals - 28 species of rodents 379,000 birds 2 million reptiles - Poisonous snakes 49 million amphibians 223 million fish U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Data

Why the concern about wild animal importation for commerce? High volume, rapid turn-over Most animals are wild-caught, not captive-raised No screening prior to shipment No holding or testing required on entry Opportunity for widespread exposure of public High mortality rates (30%-50%) common Importers are not required to have diagnostic necropsies performed for high mortality shipments

Reasons for Animal Importation Incidental / accidental Exhibition at zoos Education and research Scientific conservation programs Use as food and products Tourism and immigration (Domesticated companion animals) Commercial pet trade

Regulatory alternatives Screen animals with reliable laboratory tests Treat the animals empirically for known diseases Quarantine animals Incubation period Duration of transmissibility Potential for asymptomatic infection Ban importation

Conclusions Prevention efforts should include reducing both the supply of and the demand for nontraditional pets - Explore ways to strengthen and streamline authority and legislation in the pet industry - Expand ban on importation of exotic wildlife for commercial purposes (NPRM) - Publish guidelines addressing the infectious disease risks associated with nontraditional pets

Animal Imports: Questions to Ponder Need for Regulatory Changes? Exotic Animals? - Do we need to restrict live exotic animal cargo to QS POEs Are we an inspection agency? - If so, we would need people with a different skill set as members s of q-stations q (e.g., people trained to handle and conduct health assessments of animals) Are we an enforcement agency? - Do we fu confinement agreements with authority to conduct activities ties within the states? If not, then who should be our enforcement arm? Are we an agency that confiscates banned items? - If so, we need to have people trained in chain of custody rules for evidence gathering, proper usage of PPE, and facilities to store or incinerate these items.