IMPORT ALERT: Screwworm restrictions on importation of animals originating from or transiting Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen

Issuance Date: June 8, 2022

Effective Date: June 8, 2022

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) is adding Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen to the list of regions APHIS considers affected with screwworm.

Until further notice:

Importation of ruminants, swine, hedgehogs, and tenrecs from Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, and Yemen is prohibited. The USDA APHIS VS will permit the importation of dogs from these regions, as long as the animals 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 5 days prior to shipment to the United States and the animal is either free from screwworm OR was found to be infested with screwworm, was held in quarantine, and was treated until free from screwworm prior to leaving the region. Other U.S. governmental Agencies or Units may have additional import requirements for dogs that must be met before import is permitted.

Horses imported directly from, or transiting Aruba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Timor-Leste, or Yemen must complete and adhere to the established import screwworm protocol, which includes a minimum 7-day quarantine period at an APHIS approved import quarantine facility upon arrival. If a horse  resides in a screwworm-free country for a minimum of 7 days immediately prior to being exported to the United States, and is examined free of screwworm, APHIS will permit the horse to complete a 3-day quarantine at an APHIS approved import quarantine facility upon arrival. In addition, certification of screwworm examination, including external genitalia, and freedom of infestation after residing in the screwworm-free country for a minimum of 7 days must accompany the health documentation.

For animal species other than horses, please check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and/or USDA Animal Care to ensure import requirements of those agencies are met, when applicable.  

A list of regions APHIS recognizes as affected by screwworm can be found on the USDA APHIS Animal Health Status of Regions web page.