CDC's New Rabies Prevention Rule

Over Reach, Though Well Intentioned

The Epoch Times recently published on new rules coming down from the CDC for dogs entering the U.S. from abroad.

Rule’s Intent: No Rabies Imports

It’s all about keeping foreign rabies from our shores.

I have a long history of interest in and study of the issue at hand, which is rabies prevention. I was hired in 1989 by the State of Hawaii to weigh in on their then 80 year old quarantine system that has kept the islands free of this disease.

As rabies is both an animal and human health concern, and there are still an estimated 59,000 human deaths annually from the disease, sound control efforts are necessary.

In Hawaii’s case, the fear was that, like other tropical nations with rabies, once the disease reached the islands, it would become established in the mongoose, a species that lived in close association with people. Once so established, it would be impossible to eradicate.

After months of in depth research, I came to the conclusion in my report to the state that the 4 month automatic quarantine of every pet entering Hawaii was excessive. Most were coming from the mainland US, already vaccinated and likely immune to the disease.

I recommended easing the quarantine to be replaced with adequate vaccination and titer testing before entry.

My move to Austin in 1994 put the report in my rear view mirror, as I focused on building my nascent homeopathic practice that had begun on Maui.

I learned after the fact that Hawaii acted favorably on my recommendations, and kept a minimum quarantine only for those exceptions who arrived without passing the requirements.

August 1^st Proposed Rules for Imported Dogs

The CDC’s ruling is focused on foreign imports, often “rescues,” from distant countries where rabies is either endemic or poorly controlled or both.

While it needs some tweaking, I applaud its intent.

Rabies is a nasty, most often fatal disease in animals and humans, and it’s best prevented from reaching our shores via “rescued” animals from abroad, a misguided effort on the part of animal lovers within the US.

Does the US not have enough animals of our own in need of “rescue?”

Why does anyone feel the need to bring foreign animals into the US to “rescue” them?

I think the mindset of some rescuers is fine: you are helping animals perhaps destined for euthanasia in over crowded shelters to find permanent homes.

Great.

But there’s also a subset who take this to extremes, and, in my opinion, see rescue as a means of elevating their status.

A feather in their hats, if you will.

A proud stance, perhaps cloaked as a “humble brag.”

I see it as virtue signaling, akin to

I got my shot (wear my mask, social distance, stay at home, etc.), I’m part of the Covid solution, why aren’t you? You’re so selfish!”

This is a dangerous mindset, and if that pride results in rabies introduction from an imported dog, I’m all for tightening restrictions to prevent this erroneous do-goodery.

The Problem, Currently

All that said, as with Hawaii’s overreaching 120 day quarantine, that clearly worked at the cost of “good citizens” entering the islands with pets that were unlikely to carry rabies, this CDC ruling will need work.

The amendments must be around non-threatening animals coming from Canada. Or the UK, Australia or New Zealand (rabies free from their own ongoing efforts).

There are many Canadian/US border crossings for benign reasons like shows, competitions, and breeders selling healthy, even naturally reared animals from either side to the other.

So, until August 1, hopefully enough feedback will help shape these concerns into the new ruling.

An Exaggerated Problem

The Humane Society’s Tracie Letterman weighed in:

Ms. Letterman said the group “strongly advocated for sensible disease-prevention requirements because we should not have to choose between maintaining public safety and saving animals’ lives.”

With the confusion this new rule will cause, many rescues may have to make the heartbreaking decision to simply not bring dogs into the U.S.,”

I think “saving animals’ lives” needs to be tempered by the need to keep rabies out of the US.

And yes, if that means choosing between public safety and overseas animals who may lose their lives for a lack of US intervention, so be it.

The native populace may or may not place importance on “rescuing” their downtrodden dogs. That’s life (and death) for their country, and is not our business.

As to rescuers making “heartbreaking decisions” to leave some dogs behind in their country of origin, that’s an acceptable trade off in my mind to the potential for rabies to unknowingly entering our shores.

[Rabies can have a long incubation period, depending on where the victim was bitten by a rabid animal. So, no symptoms might show during this period between the rabid bite and the virus reaching the brain and causing typical signs.]

But compare that “heartbreak” to that of an American child, bitten by a heretofore undiagnosed rabid animal, having to go through post-exposure prophylaxis or worse, losing his life if his PEP was begun too late.

It’s time to be sensible and while the non risky countries’ requirements will need to be ironed out, a Saudi Arabian or Afghani dog must go through the required vaccinations and titer tests that clear it before being allowed into the States.

An Impactful Lack of Understanding

There’s unfortunately a glaring misunderstanding of duration of immunity embodied in this passage from the new rules, published May 8^th:

If your dog’s rabies vaccination expires before you get your dog a booster vaccine, your dog must have another titer drawn at least 30 days after booster vaccination to be eligible for importation.”

We have to call BS on “expires” here!

While a vial of vaccine could expire, that’s an entirely different thing than an animal’s immunity from a vaccination expiring.

We have long known that…

Immunity to viruses persists for years if not the life of the animal.” (Schultz and Phillips, Current Vet Therapy Xl, 1992).

It’s a mistaken idea to think a 1 year rabies vaccine will only establish one year’s worth of immunity.

It’s also old news that the 1 year and 3 year rabies vaccines are the same stuff. One lot was studied for a year, the other for three, and the vials labeled accordingly (R. Schultz, Ph.D. Pers communication, 1993)

Either is likely to establish immunity well beyond their label claims.

Revaccination based on that spurious misunderstanding would be a huge disservice to dogs, regardless of origin.

Drawing another titer is fine, but not “after a booster vaccination.” Any positive titer (antibody level) inherently means a vaccine will not “boost” anything, and be 100% risk without benefit.

This is coming from veterinary immunologists, not holistic vets. These are the people in the academic trenches who measure vaccine responses!

Details on the New Ruling

Here are the details of the CDC’s new rules: Dog Importation Regs

That link also leads to a “DogBot” to find out quickly if you can ship your dog into the U.S. I tried it, as if I was a breeder, wanting to ship an 8 week old pup.

It shut me right down, when I answered NO to “Is your dog 6 months or older?”

Currently, there’s no sign of comments being allowed by CDC, but I trust people with a vested interest in ease of Canada/U.S. movement of dogs will find a way to lessen the impact on these far less risky animals.

That’s only fair, though not to say it will be easy to change the CDC’s rule.

It may take a lawsuit…