California has imposed additional requirements, effective immediately, for animals traveling from Arizona. The reason is a growing number of cases of the parasite New World screwworm in the state.
The Arizona Department of Agriculture reported another case on Friday, in a dog in Graham County. The total number of cases in Arizona is now five. The dog, found near the town of Thatcher, had no known travel history. Authorities expanded the quarantine to Graham County, and a public forum will be held in Thatcher on Nov. 10.
According to the Arizona State Veterinarian’s office, a person traveling from Arizona to California with an animal must show that it is not infected. An electronic certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued by an accredited veterinarian is required. Paper forms are not accepted. The CVI must include a statement that the animals were examined and showed no signs of New World screwworm infestation.
An entry permit is also required. It must be obtained before the animal is moved from its place of origin and entered on the CVI. The requirement now also covers horses and small animals. Equines need a negative EIA (equine infectious anemia) test, and they must arrive in California within 7 days of the test.
Arizona officials said all states follow guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The exception is Florida, which has even stricter restrictions on animals entering the state. People planning to travel with an animal should check the requirements of the destination state before they go.
A zone with a radius of 12.4 miles (20 km) is established around each infected property. Animals may not leave it without the state veterinarian’s approval, and owners may not carry out inspections in the zone on their own.
Officials encourage pet and livestock owners to check wounds carefully and report any changes that look like they have been colonized by larvae. Suspected cases in pets and livestock can be reported to diseasereporting@azda.gov or by calling 602-542-4293 during business hours on weekdays.
Source: AZFamily
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