A Ramsey County domestic female cat was confirmed to have tularemia on July 1, 2022. The cat is an indoor/outdoor pet in St. Paul’s Midway Neighborhood.

(photo on left is not the affected cat, it is a stock image)

The cat went missing for five days and when it returned it had signs of lethargy, anorexia, eye discharge, and weight loss. A veterinarian examined her the next day and recorded a fever of 105.5°F. The cat was treated with antibiotics and sent home to recover. The cat has since responded well to treatment.

Tularemia can be transmitted by ticks, flies and wild animals. Keep a close eye on your pet if they've been in contact with rabbits, squirrels or other rodents. Call your veterinarian if they've been in contact with a wild animal and appear sick.

People can also get tularemia from infected animals or ticks, and it is not transmitted person-to-person. Symptoms can appear in 3-5 days, but may take up to 14 days to appear. Symptoms in people include sudden onset of fever, chills, joint and muscle pain, headache, and nausea. Find out more about this zoonotic disease's impact on people from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Cats are the most commonly infected domestic animals in Minnesota, and Tularemia has been confirmed in cats from rural, urban, and suburban environments. While outdoor or indoor/outdoor animals are at highest risk, tularemia has been identified in indoor cats with no obvious exposures.

International pet imports

Bringing your pets along on an international trip may be a necessity, or just how you prefer to travel. Either way there are a few regulations you should be aware of before bringing pets from any international location into Minnesota.

These are the general requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling into Minnesota from a different country:

• Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)
• Proof of Rabies Vaccination
• International Import Permit
• CVI for Movement from State of Entry
• Quarantine period for imports from African Swine Fever Affected Countries

Import documentation must be received by the Board at least seven days prior to the animal’s arrival in Minnesota. Importers should scan or take legible photos and email them to companion.animal@state.mn.us for review.

Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)

All dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling from other countries require a valid CVI issued by a licensed/credentialed veterinarian from the country of origin (where the pet is coming from). Each animal listed on the certificate must have a physical examination performed by the signing veterinarian within 30 days of travel and found to be healthy with no signs of infectious, contagious, and/or communicable disease. The EU Pet Passport is NOT accepted as a valid CVI.

The CVI must include information like owner information, where the animal is coming from, vaccination status, and more. See the Dog and Cat Import Regulations for the full list of requirements.

Proof of Rabies Vaccination

Every dog, cat, or ferret three months of age or older traveling into Minnesota must be currently vaccinated for rabies and have valid proof of rabies vaccination. Review criteria for valid proof of rabies vaccination on the Dog and Cat Import Regulations webpage.

International Import Permit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues regulations to control the entry of pets into the United States from other countries. If a pet requires an import permit from the CDC, the owner is encouraged to begin the approval process early, the process can take 6-8 weeks. To determine if a dog or cat requires an import permit, visit the CDC Animal Import website. 

As of July 2022, the CDC continues suspending imports of dogs coming from countries with high-risk of dog rabies, including dogs not from a high-risk country but that have visited one during the previous six months. For more information on or questions about this suspension and permitting options for effected dogs, visit the CDC Dog Import FAQ website or email cdcanimalimports@cdc.gov.

CVI for Movement from State of Entry

Dogs, cats, and ferrets that come into the U.S. through a port of entry in a state other than Minnesota will require a valid CVI to move into Minnesota. This document is required to have all the information listed above as well as the address of the entry port and Minnesota contact information.

Dogs and Cats Imported from Countries with Confirmed or Suspected African Swine Fever (ASF) in Swine Populations

Dogs and cats that are imported into the U.S. from countries that have had a recent outbreak of, or are endemic for, ASF pose a threat to swine production systems in Minnesota.

To prevent the unintentional introduction of ASF, dogs or cats that have originated from or traveled through a country in which an ASF outbreak has been identified or suspected will be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days upon arrival in Minnesota. This quarantine may take place at the owner’s residence and allows time for disinfection and cleaning protocols to take place. Details of the quarantine procedures are on the Dog and Cat Import Regulations webpage.

An agent of the Board will contact dog and cat owners prior to or at time of arrival to address any questions and assist in the implementation of the quarantine procedures. Official quarantines may only be released by the Board or an agent of the Board.

Temporary ban: Caribbean countries

As of July 2022, the Board continues a temporary ban on dogs or cats imported into Minnesota from the following countries in the Caribbean due to high levels of ASF present in the swine population:

• Dominican Republic
• Haiti

All other Caribbean nations are considered at increased risk for ASF, and imports will be subject to the above quarantine procedures.

Still have questions about international import requirements? No problem, send us an email at companion.animal@state.mn.us. Check out the upcoming August Animal Bytes newsletter for a review of interstate import requirements.