[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 54 (Friday, March 19, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12975-12976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6205]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

42 CFR Part 71


Foreign Quarantine

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Amendment of February 4, 2004, order to lift the embargo of 
birds and bird products from the Hong Kong Special Administrative 
Region (Hong Kong).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On February 4, 2004, final rule published in the Federal 
Register on February 13, 2004 (69 FR 7165), the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order immediately banning the 
import of all birds (Class: Aves) from specified Southeast Asian 
countries, subject to limited exemptions for pet birds and certain 
bird-derived products. CDC took this step because birds from these 
affected countries potentially can infect humans with avian influenza 
(Influenza A [(H5N1]). The February 4 order complemented a similar 
action taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and 
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). CDC and APHIS are now lifting 
the embargo of birds and bird products from Hong Kong because of the 
documented public health and animal health measures taken by Hong Kong 
officials to prevent spread of the outbreak within Hong Kong and the 
lack of avian influenza cases in Hong Kong's domestic and wild bird 
populations. All other portions of the February 4, 2004 order remain in 
effect until further notice.

DATES: This action is effective on March 10, 2004 and will remain in 
effect until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Arguin, National Center for 
Infectious Diseases, centers for Disease Control Prevention, Mailstop 
C-14, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30330, telephone, 404-498-1600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 19, 2004, a single peregrine falcon was found dead near 
a residential development in Hong Kong. The bird carcass was submitted 
to public health authorities and was found to be positive for Influenza 
A (H5N1) by laboratory tests. On January 26, 2004, the Office of 
International Epizootics, an international organization that reports

[[Page 12976]]

the occurrence of animal diseases detected worldwide, listed Hong Kong 
among the countries in which an outbreak of avian influenza was 
occurring. CDC and APHIS subsequently issued embargoes of birds and 
bird products imported from these countries, including Hong Kong.
    The Hong Kong Health, Welfare, and Food Bureau provided information 
to CDC and APHIS documenting their avian influenza surveillance and 
prevention and control measures. According to the Secretary for Health, 
Welfare, and Food, on January 30, 2004, Hong Kong suspended importation 
of all live birds from countries affected by the outbreak. Hong Kong 
also has imposed a vaccination, inspection, and surveillance program 
for poultry farms, live poultry markets, and pet bird dealers; 
implemented measures to prevent spread of the virus through human 
traffic across the border; and required local poultry farms to 
implement strict biosecurity programs. In addition, according to the 
Secretary for Health, Welfare, and Food, there have been no additional 
cases of Influenza A (H5N1) in birds in Hong Kong since the positive 
peregrine falcon.
    Given the documented absence of Influenza A (H5N1) in infected 
birds in Hong Kong and the strict control measures in place in Hong 
Kong to guard against new introduction of avian influenza, CDC is 
lifting the embargo of birds and bird products imported from Hong Kong. 
APHIS-imposed disease control measures, including a 30-day quarantine, 
are not affected by this order and will remain in place as directed by 
APHIS.

Immediate Action

    Therefore, pursuant to 42 CFR 71.32(b), the February 4, 2004 order 
is amended to lift the embargo of birds and products derived from birds 
(including hatching eggs) imported from Hong Kong by removing Hong Kong 
from the list of countries subject to the order. All other portions of 
the February 4, 2004 order shall remain in effect until further notice. 
The February 4, 2004 order may be further amended as necessary as the 
situation develops, for example, to add or remove more countries 
subject to the embargo.

    Dated: March 11, 2004.
Julie Louise Gerberding,
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 04-6205 Filed 3-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-P