USA — In a historic move, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advocating for a major overhaul of dog importation regulations, marking the first significant change in nearly 70 years.
As concerns surrounding rabies persist, the proposed updates aim to strengthen requirements for individuals bringing pets into the United States from countries with a high risk of rabies.
With the virus still prevalent in over 100 nations worldwide, the CDC emphasizes the need to safeguard public health by preventing the reintroduction of dog rabies into the country.
The proposed revisions seek to establish an importation system that not only reduces fraudulent practices but also enhances the US government’s ability to verify that imported dogs comply with the country’s entry requirements.
CDC spokesperson David Daigle affirms that these updates are essential to protect the public’s well-being, stating, “The proposed updates aim to protect the public’s health by preventing the reintroduction of dog rabies into the United States.”
While human cases of rabies are rare in the United States, the virus claims the lives of approximately 59,000 people globally each year, with the majority being children bitten by dogs, according to the CDC.
Shockingly, 99% of human rabies deaths worldwide are caused by exposure to infected dogs. Once the virus enters the body through an infected animal bite, it travels through the nerves to the brain, resulting in inflammation and, ultimately, fatality by the time symptoms manifest.
The CDC’s proposed regulations introduce additional safeguards to prevent rabies from entering the country from overseas.
For example, dogs from rabies-free or “low-risk” countries would be allowed entry with written documentation proving that the dog has resided in a low-risk environment for the past six months.
Owners returning with dogs vaccinated in the US from countries with high rabies incidence would be required to present their pets at an airport equipped with a CDC quarantine station.
Additionally, they would need to complete a rabies vaccination form, validated and signed by a veterinarian approved by the US Department of Agriculture.
Heightened regulations target high-risk dog imports
The most stringent restrictions within the proposed updates target individuals seeking to import dogs from high-risk countries, even if they were vaccinated abroad.
In such cases, owners would be obligated to obtain a valid rabies vaccination form completed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by an official government veterinarian from the exporting country.
Upon arrival in the US, these dogs would undergo examination and revaccination at a CDC-registered animal care facility.
To gather public feedback, the CDC has opened the proposed guidelines for online comments until September 8th, fostering a collaborative approach in shaping the final regulations.
It is important to note that while the CDC’s proposal encompasses rules for both dog and cat importation, the changes do not impact cat imports, as proof of rabies vaccination is not currently required.
Treating rabies can be an incredibly costly endeavor. In 2019 alone, state governments expended over US$400,000 investigating and administering post-exposure prophylaxis treatment for a single infected dog, as stated in the guidelines.
These updates follow the CDC’s decision to extend the temporary suspension of dog imports from over 100 countries at high risk for rabies until July 31, 2024.
The suspension, initiated in 2021, resulted from reported cases of imported dog rabies and a significant rise in falsified rabies vaccination certificates.
In addition to the intensified vaccination verification and screening efforts, the proposed updates mandate that all dogs entering the United States be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and in good health upon arrival.
However, the proposed restrictions face challenges from various quarters. Animal Wellness Action, an animal rights advocacy group, criticized the CDC’s proposal as “draconian,” asserting that the guidelines may put Americans abroad at risk of losing their animals and could create complications for US charities involved in dog-related initiatives overseas.
Additionally, in 2021, 57 US representatives penned a letter urging the CDC to lift the suspension on canine imports from high-risk countries, expressing concerns that the policy’s broad approach prevented the rescue and adoption of thousands of dogs.
Nonetheless, the CDC remains resolute in its pursuit of preventing the resurgence of rabies, emphasizing the direct public health risks associated with inadequately vaccinated dogs imported from high-risk countries.
David Daigle reiterates the agency’s commitment, stating, “We understand the important role pets play in our lives and that there are many health benefits to owning a pet.
“However, the close relationships between dogs and people means there is a direct public health risk to people who interact with inadequately vaccinated dogs imported from countries with high risk for dog rabies.”
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