Subject: Interim Guidance for Rescue Groups Importing Dogs and Cats From Haiti
Date: 3/31/2010; 10:30:05
Message#: 101584-3-31-2010-PHAD
Attachments: None
Please distribute this information to all veterinarians, animal control officers, animal facility managers, and other parties that may be involved in animal rescue activities in your jurisdiction.
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Animal rescue and veterinary medical organizations working in Haiti estimate that there are approximately 500,000 dogs and cats in the country, including 150,000 animals in Port-au-Prince. For the past 30 years, veterinary groups from the United States have been working to vaccinate and improve the health of these animals. The earthquake on January 12, 2010, and resulting aftershocks have left many animals injured, vulnerable to illness, and in search of food. In an attempt to care for the pets and strays left after the earthquake, several rescue groups have inquired about bringing dogs and cats into the United States. The CDC has created a guidance document (link below) written for U.S. pet rescue and humanitarian relief workers who are considering bringing animals to the United States from Haiti. The document discusses animal import requirements, zoonotic diseases of concern from Haiti, and animal handling and bite prevention. In addition to the requirements for importing animals into the U.S., all dogs imported into New Jersey must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection issued within 30 days of arrival. Dogs must be licensed in the municipality within 10 days of arrival: rabies vaccination is a prerequisite of licensure. Vaccination of cats against rabies is strongly recommended.
http://www.cdc.gov/animalimportation/interim-guidance-rescue-groups-dogs-cats-haiti.html?s_cid=ccu032910_001
Please contact the NJDHSS Infectious and Zoonotic Disease Program at (609) 826-4874 if you have any questions or for additional guidance on dog and cat importation.
This information has been distributed to: DHSS Senior Staff; DHSS Staff; LINCS Coordinator Backups; LINCS Coordinators; LINCS Epidemiologists; LINCS Health Educators; LINCS Health Officer Assistants; LINCS Health Officers; LINCS Health Planners; LINCS IT Specialists; LINCS Partnership Coordinators; LINCS Public Health Nurses; LINCS Regional Health Planners; LINCS Team Members; LOCAL Health Officers; LOCAL Public Health; Animal Health Organizations; DHSS Program Staff; Public Health Associations; Public Health Council
Further distribution of this message should be directed to: Animal Health Professionals; Local Boards of Health; and other partners in your region, as appropriate.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do not use reply feature of your email system. If you have questions about the content of this email or any of its attachments, please call your County/City LINCS agency for assistance. LINCS agencies are instructed to contact the individual listed in message above or on the attachment for questions concerning content.