Customs and Border Protection Enforce CDC Embargo to Prevent Spread of Monkeypox Virus

Department of Homeland Security Press Room ^ | June 13, 2003 | DHS Press Releases

[Marine Inspector]

Press Releases

Customs and Border Protection Enforce CDC Embargo to Prevent Spread of Monkeypox Virus

For Immediate Release Bureau of Customs and Border Protection June 13, 2003

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection has joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce the embargo on importation of all rodents from Africa, in an effort to prevent further spread of the monkeypox virus in the U.S.

The embargo was imposed because at least six different species of potentially infected rodents have been implicated in the current outbreak of monkeypox virus in humans. As of June 13, 2003, 72 human cases of monkeypox virus infection are under investigation by the CDC. From the results of a preliminary trace-back investigation, it appears the source of the infection began with a shipment of rodent species from Africa and secondary infection of native prairie dogs sold as pets, and then to humans as a result of close contact.

Responding to the Joint CDC and FDA Order, U. S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner said, "As the single unified border agency protecting America, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has front line responsibility for preventing entry of prohibited commodities, including animals, at all U S ports of entry". The Commissioner added, "Our inspectors will be on alert to make sure these embargoed animals do not enter the U. S". In conclusion, Commissioner Bonner said, "CBP front line inspectors will partner with CDC and other agencies, to protect Americans from further threat and spread of this virus".

Customs and Border Protection, acting under CDC and FDA guidelines, has issued detailed instructions to all its field offices throughout the country, outlining specific procedures to follow should any of the banned animals be detected at any port of entry.

Human monkeypox, a condition not seen in this country until now, is a rare viral disease that occurs primarily in the rain forest countries of central and west Africa. In humans, the illness produces a rash similar to that of smallpox, although symptoms and outcomes are usually not as severe.

Alerts and detailed instructions for veterinarians, state departments of agriculture, and other related agencies have been distributed by the CDC. Information is also available on the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox. A public response hotline has been set up at 888-246-2675 (English), 888-246-2857 (Espanol) or 866-874-2646 (TTY).

Customs and Border Protection has nearly 27,600 officers and inspectors, including Border Patrol agents, Agricultural inspectors, Immigration inspectors, and Customs officers.

Part of the Department of Homeland Security, CBP is responsible for examining all incoming trade and people at over 300 ports of entry; for securing America's border; apprehending individuals attempting to enter the United States illegally; stemming the flow of illegal drugs and other contraband; protecting our agricultural resources from harmful animal and plant pests and diseases, and enforcing U.S. trade laws. CBP's mission is vitally important to the protection of American lives and livelihoods.

[Marine Inspector]

Seeing how well we can control illegal alien movement, we should have an epidemic of monkeypox in a few days.

[Marine Inspector]

Ping.

[DoughtyOne]

With an abundance of prairie dogs in the United States, one has to ask themselves once again, why the hell did we have to import this too?

What do we know about rodents? Come on, what's the number one thing? That's right, they carry disease. And it isn't too hard to extrapolate that rodents brought from other continents will bring disease from that continent, and particularly ones we haven't seen before.

Not only are our immigrations laws seriously f'd up, our importation laws are as well. We couldn't plan more destructive policies if we spent 230 years trying.

[Domestic Church]

Why isn't any animal imported placed in a quarantine automatically?

[DoughtyOne]

I give up. Seriously, I just don't know. I can guess though. This was deemed to be just too much to ask an importer to put up with, so we bent the rules or abolished the rules or simply said, "Who cares?", cause nobody does.

[aristeides]

So Far, 87 Monkeypox Cases in U.S. Outbreak: CDC .

[aristeides]

Officials Say Monkeypox Milder in U.S..

[Betty Jo]

So the girl with the encephalitis is still in the hospital.
I thought I had read that she was at home.I wonder if she is on a ventilator?

[NewRomeTacitus]

Prairie dogs are God's way of encouraging marksmanship.

[DoughtyOne]

Prairie Dogs (for you) / Snapping Turtles (for me)

I hear ya... ;-)