OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2003
Media Contact: Melanie Wilt, ODA Communications, 614-752-9817 

Ohio Department of Agriculture to Strictly Enforce Federal Ban
on Importation and Sales of Prairie Dogs and African Rodents 

REYNOLDSBURG – Ohio Agriculture Director Fred Dailey said his agency will strictly enforce a new federal order temporarily banning the sale of prairie dogs and African rodents in Ohio and the U.S. as public health and animal health officials complete investigations into the monkeypox virus.  

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday afternoon issued a temporary order banning the sale or shipment of prairie dogs and six African rodents – tree and rope squirrels, dormices, Gambian giant pouched rats, brush-tailed porcupines, and striped mice – which are known carriers of the monkeypox virus. (Reporters, link to http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox/index.htm for more information.) 

The department today began contacting pet retailers in Ohio to inform them of the new federal rule and the department’s intentions to enforce compliance with those and existing state laws governing the importation and sale of exotic animals in the state. 

“The Ohio Department of Agriculture works every day to control the spread of disease to protect public and animal health,” Ohio Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey said. “People who ignore importation laws and house animals illegally in Ohio threaten the public’s health and safety, something we will not tolerate.” 

Veterinary medical officers and animal health inspectors from the Ohio Departments of Agriculture and Health have been working since Tuesday to investigate the importation of prairie dogs into Ohio.  

“So far, we have found no signs of monkeypox in the animals we have examined, but we do believe they were exposed to ill prairie dogs from a dealer in Illinois,” State Veterinarian David Glauer of the Ohio Department of Agriculture said. “This is an ongoing investigation that will continue until we are positive these animals are healthy and that proper procedures were followed for importing them into the state.” 

Ohio Department of Agriculture officials will continue to:

1.   Check for proper documentation to ensure the animals were brought in legally – an ODA permit to import the animal into Ohio and a certificate of veterinary inspection signed by a licensed, accredited veterinarian in the exporting state.

2.   Check the animals for signs of illness and determine if the animal is spayed or neutered. It is illegal to keep prairie dogs in Ohio unless they have been sterilized or are incapable of reproducing.

3.   Trace sales of prairie dogs to new owners.

4.   Follow up on ODH’s public health investigation to trace any suspect human illnesses to possible animal origins.

It is illegal in Ohio to import animals recently exposed to any infectious, contagious, or parasitic diseases. (Ohio Revised Code Section. 901:1-17) Also in Ohio, prairie dogs, as well as raccoon dogs and monk parakeets, are considered invasive species because of the widespread damage they can do to crops should they colonize here. (Ohio Revised Code Sections 901:5-42-01, 927.52, 927.69, and 927.70)  

ODA officials believe all 14 animals being traced by the agriculture department were initially purchased from Phil’s Pocket Pets of Chicago, Illinois. Two were purchased from the All Ohio Reptile Show on April 19. Eleven were ordered in advance and picked up in Ohio. The purchase circumstances of one prairie dog has not been determined. Also under investigation is whether the importer had the appropriate documentation, an import permit and a certificate of veterinary inspection for each animal.  

Infected prairie dogs will become ill, showing cold- or flu-like symptoms, including sneezing and signs of eye infection. Although this is not a reportable animal disease under state law, owners of prairie dogs are being asked to report symptoms of illness to ODA at 614-728-6220 or toll-free at 1-800-300-9755.  

For information about the human cases or reports of other animals, citizens should contact their local health department or ODH’s Zoonoses Control Program at (614) 644-4292.  

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Editors: