[Federal Register: March 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 54)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12975-12976]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19mr04-4]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
42 CFR Part 71
Foreign Quarantine
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Amendment of February 4, 2004, order to lift the embargo of
birds and bird products from the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (Hong Kong).
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SUMMARY: On February 4, 2004, final rule published in the Federal
Register on February 13, 2004 (69 FR 7165), the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order immediately banning the
import of all birds (Class: Aves) from specified Southeast Asian
countries, subject to limited exemptions for pet birds and certain
bird-derived products. CDC took this step because birds from these
affected countries potentially can infect humans with avian influenza
(Influenza A [(H5N1]). The February 4 order complemented a similar
action taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). CDC and APHIS are now lifting
the embargo of birds and bird products from Hong Kong because of the
documented public health and animal health measures taken by Hong Kong
officials to prevent spread of the outbreak within Hong Kong and the
lack of avian influenza cases in Hong Kong's domestic and wild bird
populations. All other portions of the February 4, 2004 order remain in
effect until further notice.
DATES: This action is effective on March 10, 2004 and will remain in
effect until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Arguin, National Center for
Infectious Diseases, centers for Disease Control Prevention, Mailstop
C-14, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30330, telephone, 404-498-1600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 19, 2004, a single peregrine falcon was found dead near
a residential development in Hong Kong. The bird carcass was submitted
to public health authorities and was found to be positive for Influenza
A (H5N1) by laboratory tests. On January 26, 2004, the Office of
International Epizootics, an international organization that reports
[[Page 12976]]
the occurrence of animal diseases detected worldwide, listed Hong Kong
among the countries in which an outbreak of avian influenza was
occurring. CDC and APHIS subsequently issued embargoes of birds and
bird products imported from these countries, including Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Health, Welfare, and Food Bureau provided information
to CDC and APHIS documenting their avian influenza surveillance and
prevention and control measures. According to the Secretary for Health,
Welfare, and Food, on January 30, 2004, Hong Kong suspended importation
of all live birds from countries affected by the outbreak. Hong Kong
also has imposed a vaccination, inspection, and surveillance program
for poultry farms, live poultry markets, and pet bird dealers;
implemented measures to prevent spread of the virus through human
traffic across the border; and required local poultry farms to
implement strict biosecurity programs. In addition, according to the
Secretary for Health, Welfare, and Food, there have been no additional
cases of Influenza A (H5N1) in birds in Hong Kong since the positive
peregrine falcon.
Given the documented absence of Influenza A (H5N1) in infected
birds in Hong Kong and the strict control measures in place in Hong
Kong to guard against new introduction of avian influenza, CDC is
lifting the embargo of birds and bird products imported from Hong Kong.
APHIS-imposed disease control measures, including a 30-day quarantine,
are not affected by this order and will remain in place as directed by
APHIS.
Immediate Action
Therefore, pursuant to 42 CFR 71.32(b), the February 4, 2004 order
is amended to lift the embargo of birds and products derived from birds
(including hatching eggs) imported from Hong Kong by removing Hong Kong
from the list of countries subject to the order. All other portions of
the February 4, 2004 order shall remain in effect until further notice.
The February 4, 2004 order may be further amended as necessary as the
situation develops, for example, to add or remove more countries
subject to the embargo.
Dated: March 11, 2004.
Julie Louise Gerberding,
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-6205 Filed 3-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-P