Last week, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced a new 10-day quarantine requirement for dogs imported into Minnesota from countries that have had a recent outbreak of, or are endemic for, African Swine Fever (ASF). According to the World Organisation for Animal Health’s World Animal Health Information System, those countries are located in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia.
The Board, which is taking this step to protect Minnesota’s swine production systems, was clear in stating that there is no direct evidence that dogs are biological carriers of ASF. However, the Board is taking this step to reduce the chances that animals, their carriers, and transport-associated materials are capable of carrying the disease.
Owners/importers of dogs that originated from or traveled through a country in which an ASF outbreak has been identified in the domestic swine population must notify the Board at least seven days prior to the arrival of the animals into the state; and submit, at minimum, both an international health certificate and a rabies certificate. Upon arrival in Minnesota, dogs must be bathed and treated for fleas and ticks, and their travel carriers must be cleaned and disinfected. Imported animals will then be quarantined for ten days. Click here to read the full quarantine requirements.
For more information, contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at companion.animal@state.mn.us.