Effective Immediately - Updates to Maryland Import Requirements d/t Texas and New Mexico New World Screwworm Detections

Import Requirements: Except where more stringent requirements are adopted herein, all animals being imported into Maryland from a high-risk area must meet the requirements for the prevention of disease located in MD Code, Agriculture, Title 3, Regulation of Livestock and Poultry.

All warm-blooded animals, including dogs, cats, and birds originating from the states of Texas and New Mexico must be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) issued within 72 hours of movement. Hatching and table eggs are exempt from these requirements:

• The OCVI must document that all animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and found free of contagious and infectious disease and pests, including New World Screwworm (NWS).
• No alternative movement documents, such as an NPIP 9-3, will be accepted in lieu of an OCVI.
• The OCVI must contain a statement from the accredited veterinarian attesting that: “All animals listed on the OCVI have been examined within 72 hours of movement and none have been found to have a wound infested, or potentially infested, with New World Screwworm.”
• All warm-blooded animals that have wounds that are not infested with NWS larvae can be imported into Maryland provided that the following requirements are met:
- Any animal with a wound must be treated with a product listed as having an approved, conditionally approved, or emergency use authorization (EUA) for NWS by FDA.
- The effective treatment for NWS must be administered in accordance with the following:
• Oral or injected treatments must be administered no less than five days prior to entry into Maryland.
• Topical treatments must be administered no less than five days prior to entry into Maryland.
- The wound location and treatment must be documented on the OCVI.
- No warm-blooded animals with NWS infestation are allowed to be imported into Maryland.

Mandatory Reporting of Suspected New World Screwworm (NWS)

Prompt reporting of any suspected or potential NWS cases to the State Veterinarian is required. Licensed veterinarians, livestock producers, livestock dealers, livestock markets, wildlife rehabilitators, municipal animal control officers, animal shelthers, animal rescue organizations, fairs, shows, exhibitions, commercial animal exhibits (e.g., animal experiences such as goat yoga) and pet stores must immediately report any evidence of maggot infestation in a warm-blooded animal to the MDA Animal Health Program.

MDA Animal Health personnel will coordinate the collection of larval samples for submission to the Maryland Animal Health laboratories or another USDA-approved labratory for identification. Prompt reporting and laboratory confirmation are critical to ensuring a rapid response and preventing the establishment and spread of New World Screwworm.

The MDA Animal Health program will continue to monitor detections in Texas and New Mexico. Maryland import requirements will be amended or lifted as appropriate.

Visit https://mda.maryland.gov/AnimalHealth/Pages/New%20World%20screwworm.aspx for more information.