Travelers should be advised that CDC restricts the importation of animals that may pose an infectious disease threat to humans. These restrictions apply to some pets, such as dogs and cats, as well as turtles, monkeys, African rodents, birds, civets, bats, and some other animals and animal products capable of causing human disease (see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/faq_animal_importation.htm#dogreqs). Animals taken out of the United States are subject upon return to the same regulations as those entering for the first time. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) also have jurisdiction over the importation of some animals. States may have additional restrictions on the importation of animals (see http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/StateVets.htm for additional information).

Health Certificates

CDC does not require general certificates of health for animals (including dogs or cats) for entry into the United States. However, health certificates may be required for entry into some states and may be required by airlines for pets. Travelers should check with officials in their state of destination and with the airline prior to the travel date.

Dogs

Dogs are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a dog appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense might be required at the port of entry.

Rabies is common in dogs in many regions of the world, and this disease may be transmitted to humans through bites (1,2). Therefore, unless a dog is being imported from a country considered “rabies-free” by the World Health Organization (see Chapter 4, Table 4-14), it must be accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate that includes the following information:

• The breed, sex, age, color, markings, and other identifying information
• A vaccination date at least 30 days before importation
• A vaccination date reflecting that the dog was ≥3 months of age at the time of vaccination
• The vaccination expiration date (If not shown, the date of vaccination must be within 12 months of date of importation)
• The signature of a licensed veterinarian

A dog not accompanied by a current rabies vaccination certificate may be admitted provided the importer completes a confinement agreement. Such dogs must be kept in confinement during transit to the United States, be vaccinated within 4 days of arrival at the destination, and remain in confinement for at least 30 days after the date of vaccination. Confinement may be at a place of the owner’s choosing, including the home. Confinement is defined as restriction of the animal to a building or other enclosure, in isolation from other animals and people except for contact necessary for its care. If the dog is allowed out of the enclosure, the owner must muzzle the dog and use a leash. The dog may not be sold or transferred from the responsibility of the importer during this time. These requirements apply equally to service animals such as Seeing Eye dogs. A copy of the confinement agreement (Form CDC 75.37) can be found on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/cdc7537-05-24-04.pdf PDF (69 KB/2 pages)

A dog younger than 3 months of age is not considered old enough for rabies vaccination in the United States (1), even if that dog had already been vaccinated in the country of origin. A dog younger than 3 months of age may be admitted provided the importer completes a confinement agreement, vaccinates the animal at 3 months of age, and keeps the animal in confinement for at least 30 days after vaccination.

In addition to the CDC requirements for importation of dogs, routine rabies vaccination of dogs is recommended in the United States and required by most state and local health authorities. It is a good idea to check with state authorities at the final destination to determine the local requirements for rabies vaccination. All pet dogs arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements. For more information, consult http://www.hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info.htm or call 808-483-7151 (Hawaii) or http://ns.gov.gu/pets.html or call 671-735-7222 (Guam).

Cats

Cats are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a cat appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense might be required at the port of entry.

Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States. However, some states require vaccination of cats for rabies, so it is a good idea to check with state and local health authorities at the final destination.

All pet cats arriving in the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements. For more information, consult http://www.hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info.htm or call 808-483-7151 (Hawaii) or http://ns.gov.gu/pets.html or call 671-735-7222 (Guam).

Other Animals, Animal Products and Vectors

Monkeys and Other Nonhuman Primates

Nonhuman primates can transmit a variety of serious diseases to humans, including Ebola and tuberculosis; their entry into the United States from other countries is restricted (see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/faq_animal_importation.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/foreign.htm) (3). Live monkeys and other nonhuman primates may be imported into the United States only for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes, and may not be imported as pets (3). Live nonhuman primates may be brought into the United States only by importers registered with CDC, and must undergo a minimum 31-day quarantine period. Because they may be endangered, nonhuman primates also require additional permits issued by FWS for import (seehttp://www.fws.gov/le/Travelers/TipsforTravelers.htm). Nonhuman primates that leave the United States may return only via a registered importer for the approved indications listed above.

Turtles

Turtles can transmit Salmonella to humans, and because small turtles are often kept as pets, restrictions apply to their importation (see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/faq_animal_importation.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/42cfr71.pdf PDF [66 KB/14 pages])(4). An individual may import no more than six live turtles or viable turtle eggs with a carapace (shell) length of <4 inches. Seven or more turtles may be imported with permission from CDC only for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes. CDC has no restrictions on the importation of live turtles with a carapace length >4 inches.

African Rodents and Civets

To reduce the risk of introducing monkeypox and the SARS-coronavirus, live African rodents and civets, as well as unprocessed products made from these animals, may not be imported into the United States (see http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/embargoqa.htm andhttp://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-27557.htm) (5,6). Exceptions may be made for scientific, exhibition, or educational purposes with a valid permit issued by CDC. African rodent and civet products that have been processed to render them noninfectious do not require CDC permission for importation; however, these items should be accompanied by a statement indicating how they have been treated to render them noninfectious.

Birds from Countries with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1)

To reduce the risk of introducing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 into the United States, CDC restricts the importation of birds and unprocessed bird products from countries where HPAI H5N1 has been confirmed in poultry (see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/embargo.htm). Current details on the countries affected by the CDC restrictions may be found at . These restrictions are subject to change at any time depending on the current situation regarding the geographic range of this disease in birds, other animals, and the virus’ transmissibility. USDA maintains similar restrictions. The CDC and USDA import restrictions allow U.S.-origin pet birds to return following quarantine at a USDA facility for 30 days. CDC and USDA allow import of processed bird products that have been rendered noninfectious. These products must be accompanied by a USDA permit and government certification confirming that the products were treated according to USDA requirements.

Bats

Bats have been shown to be reservoirs of many viruses that can infect humans, including rabies virus, Nipah virus, SARS-coronavirus, and others (7). To reduce the risk of introducing these viruses, the importation of all live bats requires a permit from CDC. Because they may be endangered species, bats also require additional permits issued by FWS. The applications for a CDC import permit for these animals can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/batpermi.pdf PDF (13 KB/2 pages).

Other Animals, Trophies, Animal Products, and Vectors

Certain live animals, hosts, or vectors of human disease, including insects, biological materials, tissues, and other unprocessed animal products, may pose an infectious disease risk to humans and be restricted from entry. For example, goatskin souvenirs (such as goatskin drums) from Haiti have been associated with human anthrax cases, and CDC restricts these items from entry into the United States (8). Nonhuman primate trophies may be imported only with a permit issued by CDC and must be taken to a USDA-licensed taxidermist for processing. More information on import restrictions for nonhuman primate trophies may be found at http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/IP_NHP_Guidance013004.pdf PDF (18 KB/1 page) In some circumstances, restricted items may be admitted with a permit from CDC for limited scientific, educational or exhibition purposes (see http://www.cdc.gov/od/eaipp/).

Measures at Ports of Entry

The goal of these restrictions is to prevent the importation of communicable diseases from animals to humans or animals into the United States. Persons who violate these requirements may be subject to criminal and/or civil penalties. For additional information regarding importation of these animals, travelers should be advised to contact CDC, Attention: Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Mailstop E03, Atlanta, Georgia 30333 (1-404-639-3441), or visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal.htm.

Travelers planning to import horses, ruminants, swine, poultry, birds, and dogs used for handling livestock should be advised to contact the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (1-301-734-8364) or at http://www.aphis.usda.gov regarding additional requirements.

Travelers planning to import fish, reptiles, spiders, wild birds, rabbits, bears, wild members of the cat family, or other wild or endangered animals should be advised to contact FWS (1-800-358-1949) or at http://www.fws.gov.

Traveling Abroad with a Pet

Travelers planning to take a companion animal to a foreign country should be advised to meet the entry requirements of the country of destination. To obtain this information, travelers should contact the country’s embassy in Washington, D.C., or the nearest consulate (seehttp://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/.

References

1. CDC. Compendium of animal rabies prevention and control, 2005: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep. 2005;54(No. RR-3):1-7.
2. CDC. Human rabies prevention — United States, 1999: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999;48(No. RR-1):1-21.
3. DeMarcus TA, Tipple MA, Ostrowski SR. US policy for disease control among imported nonhuman primates. J Infect Dis. 1999;179 Suppl 1:S281-2.
4. Stam F, Romkens TE, Hekker TA, Smulders YM. Turtle-associated human salmonellosis. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;37:167-9.
5. CDC. Update: Multistate outbreak of monkeypox – Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, 2003. MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003;52:624-646.
6. Wu D, Tu C, Xin C, Xuan H, Meng O, Liu Y, et al. Civets are equally susceptible to experimental infection by two different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus isolates. J Virol. 2005;79:2620-5.
7. Dobson AP. What links bats to emerging infectious diseases? Science. 2005;310:628-9.
8. Editorial: Bongo-drum disease. Lancet. 1974;1:1152.

JENNIFER MCQUISTON