The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has announced that effective July 14 and until further notice it is restricting the importation of animal commodities originating from or transiting Costa Rica based on the diagnosis of new world screwworm in a dog.
APHIS states that it prohibits the importation of ruminants and swine from Costa Rica. However, it will permit the importation of pet dogs, hedgehogs, tenrecs, elephants, rhinos, and tapirs from Costa Rica as long as they are accompanied by a certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the region of origin stating that the animal has been inspected for screwworm within five days prior to shipment to the U.S. and the animal is either free from screwworm or was found to be infested with screwworm, held in quarantine, and treated until free from screwworm prior to leaving the region.
APHIS adds that horses imported directly from Costa Rica must complete and adhere to the established import screwworm protocol, which includes a minimum seven-day quarantine period upon arrival. If horses reside in a screwworm-free country for a minimum of seven days immediately prior to being exported to the U.S., APHIS will permit them to complete a three-day quarantine upon arrival. Health certificates from all regions visited within the 60 days immediately prior to export must accompany the shipment. In addition, screwworm certification endorsed by a licensed veterinarian from the exporting country must be provided certifying that the horse was examined and found free of screwworm after being in country a minimum of seven days.
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