Bird import ban sought to stop West Nile virus
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
The state Board of Agriculture is expected to vote later this month on rules designed to prevent the introduction of West Nile virus by temporarily banning the mailing of birds to Hawai'i and requiring quarantine for birds scheduled to be imported.
Advertiser library Photo
Dr. Jason Moniz said agriculture officials are proposing that the board adopts the emergency rules at its Sept. 26 meeting in Hilo. Postal officials have said they will work with the state on an embargo order to prevent birds from being mailed while the virus remains a threat.
Emergency rules on birds have been proposed to prevent an outbreak of the West Nile virus in Hawai'i.
"It would ban the movement of birds into Hawai'i through the postal system except for day-old chicks and hatching eggs," he said.
Quarantine would be required for up to seven days in the states where the birds are being imported.
Some local pet stores said the proposed rules probably wouldn't create a problem.
"It's sensible. ... 90 percent of all our birds are locally raised," said Kevin Sencio, of Pets Unlimited.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources yesterday called for increased prevention measures because of their concern about the serious threat West Nile virus poses to native birds. Since West Nile was first detected in New York in 1999, it has spread to 31 of the 33 states east of the Rocky Mountains.
The agency would support the testing of birds prior to being imported, or a quarantine of three to 10 days after arrival, spokesman Mike Markrich said.
But Moniz said the state has no facilities or resources to handle birds.
Discussions with health experts indicate that it's unlikely the virus would be introduced through imported birds but any risk should be taken seriously.
"We realize that once established, it would be extremely difficult to get rid of the problem," Moniz said.
