Monkeypox
Emergency Order--Issued June 12, 2003
The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
has investigated illness in at least twenty-one Wisconsin residents with
onsets of illness in May and June 2003 who have had recent contact with
prairie dogs or other sick animals that have been in contact with
prairie dogs. Some of the prairie dogs have exhibited signs of illness.
Human illness includes fever, cough, rash and swollen lymph nodes.
Preliminary laboratory results indicate that the cause of the human
illness is a monkeypox virus which is an orthopox virus that could be
transmitted by prairie dogs. Monkeypox virus has been also been
identified in one of the ill prairie dogs.
In order to protect the health of Wisconsin residents
and under authority granted under Chapter 254.51 Wis.
Stats., the DHFS is issuing this emergency order prohibiting the
following with regard to prairie dogs and any mammals known to have had
contact with one or more prairie dogs since April 1, 2003.
This order prohibits:
- Importing any prairie dog into Wisconsin.
- Importing into Wisconsin any mammal known to have had contact with
prairie dogs since April 1, 2003.
- Selling of any prairie dog.
- Selling of any mammal known to have had contact with prairie dogs
since April 1, 2003.
- Allowing any prairie dog to have contact with any member of the
public.
- Allowing any mammal known to have had contact with prairie dogs
since April 1, 2003, to have contact with any member of the public.
- Releasing any prairie dog to the wild.
- Releasing any mammal known to have had contact with prairie dogs
since April 1, 2003, to the wild.
- The intrastate sale or offering for sale or offering for any other
type of commercial or public distribution, including release into
the environment (i.e. the wild), of rodents from Africa including
Tree squirrels (Heliosciurus sp.), Rope squirrels (Funisciurus sp.),
Dormices (Graphiurus sp.), Gambian Giant Pouched Rats (Cricetomys
sp.), Brush-tailed porcupines (Atherurus sp.), Striped mice (Hybomys
sp.).
These prohibitions will remain in effect until the
Department has concluded that there is no longer a risk to humans from
contact with prairie dogs or with mammals known to have had contact with
prairie dogs since April 1. This prohibition does not apply to
individuals who transport listed animals to veterinarians or animal
control officials or other entities pursuant to guidance or instructions
issued by federal, state, or local government authorities.
Jeffrey P. Davis, MD
Wisconsin State Epidemiologist
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