National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Division of Global Migration and Quarantine Tails from Quarantine: Animal Importation Stories from the On-Call Veterinarian LCDR Heather Bair Brake Zoonoses Team Quarantine Border and Health Services Branch Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Overview Animal Importation Volume & purpose Regulatory authority CDC Zoonoses Team Tails from Quarantine Bat on a Plane Rabid Rescue Cargo Ship Monkey

Live Animal Importation ,731 mammals 243,004 birds 1.5 million reptiles 4.8 million amphibians 228 million fish CDC Animal Data 287,000 dogs* 26,000 nonhuman primates** *McQuiston JH et al. Importation of Dogs into the United States: Risks from Rabies and Other Zoonotic Diseases. Zoonoses and Public Health, 2008: 55;421–426 **Bob Mullan, CDC Zoonoses Team, Personal Communication U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service LEMIS Data

Reasons for Animal Importation Exhibition at zoos Education and research Scientific conservation programs Use as food and other products Tourism and immigration Commercial pet trade Personal pets Accidental

Regulating Animals and Animal Products U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) Veterinary Services Animal Care Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

DHHS, CDC, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine Primary focus is human health Authority to restrict importation of animals is related to potential health risks to humans 20 CDC Quarantine Stations at major ports Enforce DHHS statutory authority at ports of entry Depends heavily on federal partners at ports of entry

CDC Regulatory Authority Importation of Animals and Animal Products 42 Code of Federal Regulations 71 – Foreign Quarantine Subpart F – Importations – Dogs and cats – Turtles, tortoises and terrapins – Nonhuman primates – Etiologic agents, hosts and vectors – African rodents Subpart D – Health Measures at U.S. Ports: Communicable Diseases 71.32(b) – Persons, carriers, things

Responding to a Public Health Threat 42 CFR 71.32(b) : Persons, Carriers, or Things When persons, carriers, or things on a carrier are suspected of being infected or contaminated, CDC may require detention, disinfection, disinfestation, fumigation, or other measures necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases.

Zoonoses Team Mission Prevent the introduction and spread of diseases of public health significance to humans from imported live animals or cargo containing infectious animal products

ITS A BIRD… ITS A PLANE… NO. ITS A BAT ON A PLANE!

August 5, :45 am flight from Madison, WI, to Atlanta, GA

Risk Assessment Agent of concern: Rabies Evaluation of passenger exposure status Contact with bat Sleeping during the flight Mental impairment Wounds of unknown origin Evaluation of crew/ground staff exposure Contact with bat History of bat infestation at airport Categorized into no, low, medium or high risk

Passenger and Crew Risk Assessment Results Passengers Residents of 11 states Mean age: 41.2 years (range: 2 – 63 years) 47% female Crew 2 pilots 1 flight attendant 16 ground crew members Ground crew reported prior bat sightings No crew or pasengers reported contact with bat No postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) recommended

Environmental Assessment No evidence of bats or bat droppings Airport animal incident record review 5 bats identified during 2011 Airplane doors kept open overnight Holes in the ceiling where jetway meets terminal Jetway canopy folds likely hiding place

Recommendations Close holes in jetway ceilings Clean jetways during bat season Require mandatory employee training Custodial staff Baggage handlers

THE CASE OF THE RABID RESCUE

Operation Baghdad Pups Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International organizes rescues Rescue of soldiers pets from Iraq and Afghanistan Rescue initiated by one soldiers plea to save his regiments mascot, Charlie

Coming to America 2008, a shipment of 24 dogs and 2 cats arrived in United States from Iraq Housed in empty cargo warehouse atat Newark Liberty Airport Groomed Evaluated by veterinarian Two animals showed neurologic signs Cat – had small bite wound on its tail Dog – no obvious signs of bite wounds, no history of exposure to rabid animals 8/06/post_13.html

Crusade for Crusader June 8: Crusader became wobbly and snappy, and developed diarrhea June 11: Euthanized following progressive weakness June 18: Tissue tested positive for rabies Crusader /rescued_dogs_from_iraq_promp t_rabie.php

Follow-Up Investigation June 10: Remaining 23 dogs and one cat shipped to destinations in 16 states All animals were located within 2 weeks Because of exposure to rabid dog: Pets: Receive rabies booster 6 months of quarantine as determined by their state People: 13 received PEP

International Pet Rescue Thousands of dogs and cats are rescued and brought into the United States yearly Many are rescued off the streets Creates health risks for both humans and animals Animal Rescue Team Taiwan

Regulations for Importation CDC requirements: Dogs: – Must be healthy upon arrival AND – Must be accompanied by proof of valid rabies vaccination* OR be placed in confinement – Must meet state and local government requirements Cats: – Must be healthy upon arrival *Rabies vaccination is waived for dogs arriving from rabies-free countries.

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Division of Global Migration and Quarantine OPERATION SEA MONKEY

Event Time Line 3/24/2011 3/29/2011 4/13/2011 Ship departed CBP reported Ship due to Angola monkey loose arrive in on cargo ship Houston, TX

Pre-Event Planning Houston Quarantine Station Confirmed report and notified branch leadership and Z-team Joint agency planning began

Initial Picture from Vessel

Pre-Event Planning Two conditions for ship to dock 1) NHP is captured and secured in a crate or other container by crew before ship arrives 2) NHP is dead, double bagged and stored, preferably cold, before arrival Guidance developed for each scenario Minimize exposure to NHP Disinfect soiled areas on vessel

The Response April 9, 2011: Captain reports NHP capture

Boarding Plan and Responsibilities US Coast Guard and CBP Security and entry screenings Houston Quarantine Staff Crew health assessments Zoonoses Team Assess NHP health and crate integrity Inspect areas where NHP had access

Response at Port of Houston Response at dock US Fish and Wildlife Vessel agent and legal representative CBP CDC Transport company NHP removed from vessel in crate and transported to registered importer facility

NHP Assessment No fear of humans Possible pet Hybrid of species Physical Exam Performed under anesthesia Good body condition No significant findings

Testing of NHP First tuberculin skin test placed one day after arrival Positive test NHP was euthanized Necropsy No significant findings on gross pathology Filovirus test was negative TB cultures, no growth

Conclusions Risk to crew from NHP was minimal No evidence of active tuberculosis in NHP Reports indicated that NHP was outside most of the voyage Crew reported no close contact with NHP

PNAS, 2004 There is nowhere in the world from which we are remote and no one from whom we are disconnected

Preventing Disease Importation Partnership with state and local health departments Partnership with other federal agencies at U.S. ports of entry Open communication between CDC and importing organizations: International pet rescue groups Zoos Research institutions

Acknowledgments CDC Quarantine Branch Emily Lankau – DGMQ EIS Officer Teal Bell – CSTE fellow Thomas George – Officer in Charge, Houston QS Zoonoses Team Adam Langer Gale Galland Bob Mullan Julie Sinclair Sheryl Shapiro