The United States government is suspending the entry of dogs from the Philippines and several other countries also listed as “high risk for importing dog rabies”.
Beginning July 14, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said those who wish to import a dog from the country must request advance written approval from CDC at least six weeks before arrival.
“No CDC Dog Import Permits are issued upon arrival. Dogs that arrive from high-risk countries without advance written approval from CDC will be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense,” it said in a statement.
The advisory came amid the reintroduction of canine rabies virus variant (dog rabies) into the United States.
In 2020, CDC said there had been a “significant increase” compared with the previous two years in the number of imported dogs that were denied entry into the United States from high-risk countries.
Due to reduced flight schedules, it said dogs denied entry are facing longer wait times to be returned to their country of departure, leading to illness and even death in some cases.
The temporary suspension also applies to other nations not listed if the dogs have been in any high-risk countries during the previous six months.