[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 35984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-17152]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Embargo on Importation of Dracaena Shipments in Standing Water

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of embargo on importation of Dracaena shipments in 
standing water.

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SUMMARY: Shipments of Dracaena (``lucky bamboo'') in standing water and 
infested with mosquitoes are currently being imported into the United 
States. Because of potential public health threats posed by exotic 
species of mosquitoes, CDC is implementing an immediate embargo on the 
importation of Dracaena that has been shipped in standing water. This 
embargo only affects importation of Dracaena shipments in standing 
water.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David Kim, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., National Center for 
Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, 
Mailstop E-03, Atlanta, Georgia, 30333; (404) 498-1600; E-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 14, 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC), was notified by the Los Angeles district office of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it had identified maritime cargo 
containers of ``lucky bamboo'' (Dracaena species), an ornamental plant, 
that were infested with mosquitoes. CDC subsequently identified the 
Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, a species previously not seen 
in California, and other species of mosquitoes associated with these 
cargo containers. The Dracaena in the infested cargo containers was 
shipped in small boxes with two to three inches of standing water. 
Shipments of Dracaena with no standing water or associated mosquito 
infestation have been arriving in the United States from China, Taiwan, 
Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Costa Rica and other countries as air 
and maritime cargo for at least 3 years.

Public Health Risks

    Dracaena shipments in standing water appears to pose a considerable 
risk of importing exotic mosquitoes into the United States. Although 
previously introduced and widely established in the eastern half of the 
United States, Aedes albopictus has not established a population in 
California. Aedes albopictus is capable of transmitting serious human 
diseases such as western equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, 
and dengue viruses. Introduction of new Aedes albopictus populations 
from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and other countries might include 
genotypes that are more efficient vectors of human diseases than the 
genotypes that are currently present in the United States. There have 
been precedents of accidental introduction of mosquito species of 
public health importance into the United States by a similar mechanism, 
i.e., by importation of materials containing standing water.

Immediate Action

    Introductions of exotic species of mosquitoes, such as Aedes 
albopictus in California and other species in different parts of the 
United States, through the importation of Dracaena shipments in 
standing water, pose potentially serious public health threats. 
Accordingly, pursuant to 42 CFR 71.32(c), CDC is implementing an 
embargo on the importation of Dracaena shipments in standing water, 
effective immediately. This embargo only affects importation of 
Dracaena shipments in standing water.

    Dated: July 3, 2001.
Joseph R. Carter,
Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 01-17152 Filed 7-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P