G. Gale Galland, Robert J. Mullan, Heather Bair-Brake

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, nonhuman primates, African rodents, birds, civets, bats, and other animals and animal products capable of causing human disease (see www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/AnimalImportation and www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/AnimalFaq).

Upon return, animals taken out of the United States are subject 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 www.agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/StateVets.htm for additional information).

Health Certificates

• CDC regulations do not require general health certificates for animals (including dogs or cats) entering the United States
• Health certificates may be required for entry into some states
• Health certificates may be required by airlines for pet travel
• 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 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 may be required before entry.

Unless a dog is being imported from a country considered “rabies-free” by the World Health Organization (see Table 2-16), 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 at least 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 letter agreeing to the following:

• Dogs must be kept confined at a place of the owner’s choosing, including their home until proper rabies vaccination is obtained. Confinement is defined as isolation away from other animals and people except for contact necessary for the dog’s care. If the dog is allowed out of its enclosure, the owner must muzzle the dog and use a leash.
• The dog must be vaccinated within 4 days of arrival at its destination and remain in confinement for at least 30 days after the date of vaccination.
• The dog may not be sold or transferred from the responsibility of the importer during the time of confinement.
• A copy of the confinement agreement (Form CDC 75.37) can be found on the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/ConfinementAgreement.
• Puppies <3 months of age are not considered old enough for rabies vaccination. Puppies <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.
• Routine rabies vaccination of dogs is recommended in the United States and required by most state and local health authorities.
• 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://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info or call 808-483-7151 (Hawaii), or see http://k9.gov.gu/ or call 671-475-1426 (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 may be required at the port of entry.
• Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States.
• States may require rabies vaccination for cats, 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://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info or call 808-483-7151 (Hawaii), or see http://k9.gov.gu/ or call 671-475-1426 (Guam).

Other Animals, Animal Products, and Vectors

Nonhuman Primates (Monkeys, Apes, etc.)

• Nonhuman primates can transmit a variety of serious diseases to humans, including Ebola and tuberculosis. Nonhuman primate entry into the United States is restricted, see—
  • www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/AnimalFaq
  • www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/Primates
• Nonhuman primates may only be imported into the United States by a CDC registered importer and only for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes. Nonhuman primates may not be imported as pets.
• All nonhuman primates are considered endangered or threatened and require additional permits issued by FWS for import. More information is available at www.fws.gov/le/Travelers/TipsforTravelers.htm.
• Nonhuman primates that leave the United States may only return through a registered importer and only if they are imported for science, education, or exhibition.

Turtles

• Turtles can transmit Salmonella to humans, and because small turtles are often kept as pets, restrictions apply to their importation. More information is available at—
  • www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/AnimalFaq
  • www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/FederalRegs42CFR71
• An individual may import no more than six viable turtle eggs or six live turtles with a carapace (shell) length of less than 4 inches.
• Seven or more turtles may be imported with permission from CDC and only for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes.
• CDC has no restrictions on the importation of live turtles with a carapace length ≥4 inches. Check with USDA or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding additional requirements to import turtles.

African Rodents and Civets

• To reduce the risk of introducing monkeypox and the SARS-coronavirus, live African rodents and civets, as well as potentially infectious products made from these animals, may not be imported into the United States. More information is available at—
  • www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/embargoqa.htm
  • http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-27557.htm
• 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 in a way 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 www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/embargo.htm).
• Current details on the countries affected by the CDC restrictions may be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/embargo.htm.
• These restrictions are subject to change at any time, depending on the current situation regarding the geographic range of this disease in birds and 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 for 30 days at a USDA facility. 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. 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 www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/bats.

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.
  • Potentially infectious 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 www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/IP_NHP_Guidance013004.pdf (PDF).
• In some circumstances, restricted items may be admitted with a permit from CDC for scientific, educational or exhibition purposes (see www.cdc.gov/od/eaipp/).

Measures at Ports of Entry

The goal of these restrictions is to prevent the importation into the United States of communicable diseases transmissible from animals to humans or other animals. 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 (404-639-3441), or visit www.cdc.gov/yellowbook/AnimalFaq.

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 (301-734-8364) or at 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 (800-358-1949) or at www.fws.gov/le.

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 and transportation guidelines of the airline. To obtain this information, travelers should contact the country’s embassy in Washington, D.C., or the nearest consulate (see www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/).

There are several ways to travel with a companion animal. The animal may be allowed in the cabin if it meets certain size and weight restrictions, may be checked in with luggage, or may be placed into cargo. Travelers intending to bring their pets onboard with them should check with the airline for space and size/weight restrictions. For the health of the animal, pets are allowed to travel in checked luggage or cargo only if weather conditions permit. The airline will be able to help determine the best dates and times for traveling with pets.

References

1. CDC. Compendium of animal rabies prevention and control, 2005: National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005;54(RR-3):1–7.
2. CDC. Human rabies prevention—United States, 1999: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 1999;48(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(11):e167–9.
5. CDC. Update: Multistate outbreak of monkeypox—Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, 2003. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003;52(27):642–6.
6. Wu D, Tu C, Xin C, et al. Civets are equally susceptible to experimental infection by two different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus isolates. J Virol. 2005;79(4):2620–5.
7. Dobson AP. Virology: What links bats to emerging infectious diseases? Science. 2005;310(5748):628–9.
8. Editorial: Bongo-drum disease. Lancet. 1974;1(7867):1152.