This temporary action is necessary to ensure the health and safety of dogs imported into the United States and to protect the public’s health against the reintroduction of canine rabies virus variant (dog rabies) into the United States.

Dr. Emily Pieracci of the CDC told US News Outlet NPR that during 2020, the CDC discovered over 450 cases of dogs arriving to the US from certain countries with false vaccination certificates, prompting the agency to issue the emergency order.

Last year, the CDC identified a significant increase compared with the previous 2 years in the number of imported dogs that were denied entry into the United States from high-risk countries. Due to reduced flight schedules, dogs denied entry are facing longer wait times to be returned to their country of departure, leading to illness and even death in some cases.

CDC estimates 6% of all dogs imported into the United States arrive from countries at high risk for dog rabies. Inadequately vaccinated dogs are not protected against rabies and are a public health threat. Rabies is fatal in both humans and animals, and the importation of even one rabid dog could result in transmission to humans, pets, and wildlife. Dog rabies has been eliminated from the United States since 2007. This suspension will protect the health and safety of imported dogs by preventing importations of dogs inadequately vaccinated against rabies and will protect the public’s health against the reintroduction of dog rabies.

CDC has coordinated with other federal agencies and entities as necessary to implement this action, and CDC will review this suspension periodically.

Dogs from high-risk countries may be imported only with CDC’s advance written approval (CDC Dog Import Permit), including dogs imported from a country NOT at high risk if the dogs have been in a high-risk country during the previous 6 months. Such approvals may be granted on a limited case-by-case basis at CDC’s discretion. If your request for advance approval to import a dog is denied, CDC’s written denial will constitute final agency action. No appeals will be allowed.

To request advance written approval, you must follow the instructions at How to Apply for a CDC Dog Import Permit and send an email to CDC at CDCanimalimports@cdc.gov, at least 30 business days (6 weeks) before you intend to enter the United States. Requests cannot be made at the port of entry upon arrival into the United States. Dogs that arrive from high-risk countries without advance written approval from CDC will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense.

All dogs from high-risk countries granted advance written approval (CDC Dog Import Permit) must enter the United States at a port of entry with a live animal care facility with a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)-issued Facilities Information and Resource Management System (FIRMS) code. At the time of publication of the FRN, the only approved facility is located at the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. CDC will update the list of approved ports of entry at this website as they become available.

Restricted Countries:

Americas & Caribbean

• Belize, Bolivia, Brazil
• Colombia, Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador, El Salvador
• Guatemala, Guyana
• Haiti, Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Peru
• Suriname
• Venezuela

Asia, the Middle East, Europe

• Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Brunei
• Cambodia, China (excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan)
• Georgia
• India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
• Laos, Lebanon
• Malaysia, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma)
• Nepal, North Korea
• Oman
• Pakistan, Philippines
• Qatar
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria
• Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste (East Timor), Turkey, Turkmenistan
• Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
• Yemen

Africa

• Algeria, Angola
• Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi
• Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti
• Egypt (Temporary importation suspension of dogs from Egypt until further notice)
• Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia
• Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau
• Kenya
• Lesotho, Liberia, Libya
• Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique
• Namibia, Niger, Nigeria
• Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
• Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan
• Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Togo, Tunisia
• Uganda
• Western Sahara
• Zambia, Zimbabwe

If a country or political unit is not listed above, it is not considered high risk for importing dog rabies into the United States. Therefore, if the country is not listed, CDC strongly recommends a rabies vaccine certificate, but it is not required to enter the United States.

If you want to learn more about how the United States determines risk for importing dog rabies, visit CDC’s Rabies Branch. To learn your risk for rabies as a traveler, see Travelers’ Health.

The Colombian Maritime Authority issued the following statement (translated into English).

In reference to the death of the captain of the “Spirit of Hamburg” cargo ship, Myo Tun Zaw, a national of Burma (Myanmar), in circumstances that are the subject of investigation, the Maritime Directorate General is allowed to clarify that:

1. The Spirit of Hamburg, container ship, flagged to the Isle of Man of the Maersk shipping line, arrived at the port of Cartagena on April 16, 2020 at 7:40 a.m. with 21 crew members onboard, in order to load and unload containers at the port facilities of the Cartagena Regional Port Authority.
2. At approximately 5:00 p.m. on the same day, when the cargo ship was still docked at the port, a report was received from the Protection Officer of the Cartagena Regional Port Authority, reporting the death of the captain, who was found on the main deck of the ship.
3. The specific circumstances of time, mode and place are the subject of investigation by the Colombian judicial authorities.
4. The General Maritime Directorate through the Port Authority of Cartagena opened the corresponding administrative investigation, in application of Decree Law 2324 of 1984 and Decree 730 of 2004 “ By which Chapter XI-2 of the International Agreement is partially regulated for the Safety of Human Life in the Sea of ​​1974-SOLAS-approved by 8^th Law of 1980,” compiled in the Unique Decree of the Defense Sector 1070 of 2015, regarding the verification and compliance with the ship protection plan and the port facility, actions carried out by virtue of its powers as authority of the coastal state.
5. The Colombian Maritime Authority will continue to make available its competence within the investigations that are currently being carried out by different judicial and administrative authorities that have jurisdiction over the events that have occurred, especially by the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation, enforcing the powers of Colombia. as a coastal State so that justice is effectively exercised in our country, in accordance with the national legal order and International Public Law.
6. The General Maritime Directorate has maintained constant communication with the representatives of the shipping company in the port of Cartagena and has issued the corresponding notifications addressed to the flag state of the ship.

Images courtesy Hamburg Sud Line

A statement put out by Zeaborn Ship Management stating that a seafarer suffered fatal injuries after an incident with an intruder, though news reports state that the ship captain was slaughtered in a mutiny by his own crew.

Zeaborg statements that the crime was committed by an intruder conflict with other press & social media reports that consistently claim the crime was committed by the ship’s own crew.

According to Colombian daily El Tiempo, Mynanmar national Myo Tun Zaw, the ship’s master was killed by his crew onboard the Spirit of Hamburg. Though social media reports initially claimed the crew was Philippine, though other reports, such as the Maritime Bulletin indicate that the crew was also from Myanmar, save for 2 Ethiopians.

“Managers Zeaborn Ship Management regret to advise that in the afternoon of 16 April 2020 one of its valued seafarers of its managed container vessel Spirit of Hamburg has suffered fatal injuries following what is believed to be a violent incident with an intruder onboard the ship in the port of Cartagena, Colombia,” said Zeaborn in a statement.

According to UN convention, the laws of Colombia might not apply to the crime since it occurred onboard a foreign vessel. The Spirit of Hamburg is British flagged but German owned and managed.

“Immediately after the incident all relevant authorities and parties have been notified. Representatives of the company have arrived in Cartagena for further support to the crew. The exact circumstances of the violent incident are yet unknown, and police have started an official investigation into the events and conducted interviews with the crew of Spirit of Hamburg. In order to not interfere with the investigation of the local police Zeaborn Shipmanagement will refrain from making any further statements at this stage,” added Zeaborn.

“Authorities in Columbia have meanwhile granted permission for the vessel to move from berth to inner anchorage.”

Photo Credit Ed Dunens

The project in Tenjo, just outside of the capital of Bogotá, is unique in that it will be a pilot project for 2017 that uses the company’s polyurethane materials in PVC panels that will form the structure’s walls. The PVC panels, which Dow says are cheaper and more sustainable than brick or cement, are expected to require minimal maintenance and provide both thermal and acoustic insulation.

After completing the pilot house for a family of five in Tenjo, which Dow expects to start building in June, the company says there may be an opportunity to construct a whole neighborhood of similar houses in Quimbaya, a town in the western part of the department of Quindio.

“The project aims to demonstrates that it is possible to build a low-income house that is both sustainable and affordable…with quality standards like no other of similar value,” a Dow representative told Finance Colombia.

Rob Vallentine, director of global citizenship of Dow and president of the Dow Chemical Company Foundation, said that the company is looking forward to this and other projects around the world that help put its products to use for those in need. “Our Habitat collaboration gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the ways Dow can use the passion and talents of our people to help transform society at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and citizenship,” said Vallentine.

Also in 2017, Dow will for the first time support a Habitat for Humanity project in Myanmar, where it will donate water filtration systems in the towns of Thanatpin and Dala. Currently, more than a quarter of homes in these two areas receive drinking water from unsafe sources. After the build is complete, Dow will have partnered with Habitat for Humanity in 33 different countries during their long-standing relationship.

“Amazing things happen worldwide when partners want to make a positive difference in the lives of their employees, in the communities where they operate and serve, and around the globe,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International.

Photo credit: Dow Chemical Company