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| Hilo, Hawaii News, Sports, & Information |
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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Posted: Saturday, January 3rd, 2004 7:11 AM HST
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New rules for importing birds now in effect
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(Honolulu-AP) -- New administrative rules have gone into effect to prevent the introduction of the West Nile virus and other diseases into Hawaii from imported birds and poultry.
The state Department of Agriculture says the rules make permanent temporary emergency rules. They were put into place in September 2002 in response to the spread of the virus in North America.
One of the new rules restricts the arrival of birds and poultry to Honolulu International Airport. It's the only airport in the state where the department has a quarantine-holding facility and staff to inspect and isolate poultry and birds upon entry.
Birds carry the West Nile virus, which first surfaced in the United States in New York City in 1999 and has moved westward across the country. Mosquitoes bite infected birds and can then transmit the virus to humans.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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