CDC Suspends Pet Importation from Rabies Endemic Countries

The CDC announced Monday, June 14th that pet importations from countries considered high risk for rabies will be suspended starting July 14, 2021. The new rule will affect pets arriving from over 100 countries including China, Brazil, the Philippines, Russia, and India.

The CDC has stressed that the ban is temporary and expected to last one year until July 14, 2022. Their goal is to prevent the spread of dog rabies which had been eliminated in the United States since 2007. In a statement, the CDC said special exemptions would be given for non-US citizens traveling with their pets to the United States and service dogs on a case by case basis.

The CDC’s decision comes as the pandemic has disrupted vaccination programs across the globe, not only for humans but their furry companions as well. With fewer personnel staffed at airports as a result of an unprecedented slow down in air traffic, it has become increasingly difficult for government authorities to ensure vaccination records are genuine and properly inspected. In the past year, there has been an increase in fraudulent rabies vaccination certificates in pets imported from countries targeted by the ban.