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For Immediate
Release: January 2, 2004 NEW RULES FOR IMPORTING BIRDS IN EFFECT HONOLULU - New administrative rules went into effect on December 29, 2003 that put in place permanent safeguards to prevent the introduction of the West Nile virus (WNV) and other diseases of imported poultry and birds. Temporary emergency rules have been in place since September 2002 in response to the spread of WNV in North America. Also included in the new rules were other measures to strengthen the ability of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to prevent and control poultry and bird diseases, some of which have public health, economic or environmental impacts. Public hearings on the new rules were held in early December and the Hawaii Board of Agriculture approved the repeal of the current poultry and bird rules in favor of new rules at its December 16th meeting. Governor Linda Lingle approved the new rules on December 19. "Hawaii faces an increasing threat from the West Nile virus as the disease is spreading to the western states through the wild bird population," said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. "This makes it very important that the temporary rules guarding us against the disease are made permanent." WNV is transmitted by mosquitoes and is primarily a wild-bird disease; but other birds, horses and humans may also become infected and deaths can occur. "These new rules will also provide further protection of the state's poultry and birds, including native birds, from devastating avian diseases," said State Veterinarian James Foppoli. "The recent Exotic Newcastle's disease outbreak on the West Coast resulted in about 19,000 premises being quarantined, 2,600 premises being completely depopulated and 3.5 million poultry and birds dying or being destroyed at a cost of about $160 million." The following are the major changes contained in the new rules:
The proposal to eliminate the vaccination requirement is being made since available Newcastle's vaccines do not prevent vaccinated birds from becoming infected and transmitting the virus. Vaccinated poultry may appear clinically normal on examination and thereby enter the state without suspicion.
For more information on Hawaii Administrative Rule, Chapter 4-28, "Poultry and Birds," please go to the HDOA website at: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/adminrules/AR-28.PDF. For more information, contact:
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