Exotic animal imports, diseases subject of CDC meeting

Exotic animal imports, diseases subject of CDC meeting    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a public meeting in Decatur, Ga., May 18 to discuss issues concerning the spread of diseases through imports of exotic animals.
   Wild animals carry a variety of diseases that may be transmitted to humans. In 2003, an outbreak of monkeypox in the United States, which involved 37 confirmed human cases, was traced to imports of African rodents. The CDC is now extremely concerned about the import of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) through exotic bird imports.
   Calling for the meeting are also the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.
   For more information, contact Kelly Crossett by calling (919) 313-7615 or by e-mail at kcrossett@constellagroup.com.