One of 33 dogs and one cat imported by an animal rescue organization from Azerbaijan to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on June 10 has tested positive for rabies. Health officials are checking on the other animals in the shipment and are still tracking down the pets’ new owners. Tthe investigation is focused on Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey and New York.
Source: Associated Press, June 18, 2021. Link. Because of a spike in the number of puppies denied entry because they weren’t old enough to be fully vaccinated the CDC announced that starting July 14 it will impose a year-long ban on dogs from more than 100 countries where rabies is still a problem.
Also see: U.S. bans importing dogs from 113 countries after rise in false rabies records, NPR, June 14, 2021. Link.
INSIGHTS: The U.S. was declared canine-rabies free in 2007. Despite the declaration, rabies remains a potential threat from spillover infections from wildlife to domestic animals, adaptation to new animal reservoirs, movement of potentially infected animals and lack of adequate vaccination coverage of domestic animals, particularly cats and dogs.