ICYMI: Secretary Wengryn Sets Import Requirements to Protect New Jersey Livestock from New World Screwworm

Effective immediately, livestock, dogs, cats, and exotic pets entering New Jersey from affected state must meet new importation requirements

(TRENTON) The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), with consultation and agreement from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), has implemented specific requirements for animals being transported from a New World Screwworm (NWS) affected state into New Jersey, effective immediately. New World screwworm (NWS), Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a species of fly found throughout portions of North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean. NWS is particularly devastating because the fly larvae burrow and feed on living tissue, often causing severe, sometimes fatal damage to animals. NWS can infest any warm-blooded animal, including livestock, companion animals, wildlife, birds, and humans. To safeguard animals and protect public health, NJDA and NJDOH have instituted new movement requirements and restrictions for domestic animals that must be met prior to movement into New Jersey. Domestic animals include all livestock, poultry, cats, dogs, and exotic pets.

Since the announcement of an NWS detection in Texas on June 3, the NJDA has been monitoring the case reports and considering potential impacts to New Jersey animal owners. While the risk to New Jersey remains low, the confirmation of NWS in the US and continued new detections in Texas prove that this will be an ongoing issue. Movement of animals from impacted areas is a potential source of NWS introduction into New Jersey. The confirmed cases, in Texas and New Mexico, have involved livestock and canine species. There have been no cases of NWS detected in New Jersey or surrounding states.

"Protecting New Jersey from this dangerous insect is the purpose of the animal movement and restrictions we are putting in place," said Ed Wengryn New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture. "The larvae feed on the living flesh of infected animals, so it is a risk to livestock, domestic pets, and humans. The goal of the regulations is to ensure animals coming to New Jersey from infected states are not bringing the fly or larvae with them."

"The risk to New Jerseyans from New World Screwworm is very low. But public health means acting before a threat arrives, not after," said Dr. Raynard E. Washington, New Jersey's Health Commissioner. "We know animal health, environmental health, and human health are deeply interconnected. These new movement requirements are a smart, proactive step to keep people and livestock safe in our state."

Under the implemented requirements, any domestic animal infested with or suspected to be infested with NWS or originating from a quarantined premises will be prohibited from entering New Jersey.

Animals originating from elsewhere in an NWS-affected state must undergo a thorough veterinary examination within five days before transportation into New Jersey. The examination is required and must be verified in a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. Dogs, cats, exotic pets, and rabbits originating from any place in a US state that contains an infested zone or adjacent surveillance zone must be treated by an accredited veterinarian with a systemic product effective against NWS. All livestock animals originating in or transiting through a US state that contains an infested zone or adjacent surveillance zone must obtain permitted approval from NJDA prior to movement into New Jersey.

The NJDA is authorized to institute and enforce such measures as it deems necessary to control infectious or contagious diseases of animals or poultry. The state has long recognized NWS as a "particular and dangerous menace to animal health in the State." NJDA is asking animal owners to remain vigilant for this pest. If you suspect NWS in your animal, please alert your veterinarian or the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.

The full list of movement requirements may be found at: Animal Health (https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/).

View the New World Screwworm New Jersey Entry Infographic at: NWS_Import_Infographic.pdf

View Quarantine Order here: Quarantine Order for Preventing New World Screwworm

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