The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued its final rule that it hopes will reduce public health risks of the dog-maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV) associated with the importation of dogs into the United States. The final rule addresses the importation of cats as part of overall changes to the regulations affecting both dogs and cats, but the final rule does not require that imported cats be accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination and does not substantively change how cats are imported into the United States.
In this final rule, CDC aligns U.S. import requirements for dogs with the importation requirements of other DMRVV-free countries by requiring proof of rabies vaccination and adequate serologic test results from a CDC-approved laboratory. Requirements that need to be met for dogs to be imported include: a microchip, six-month minimum age requirement for admission, and importer submission of a CDC import form. The rule also requires airlines to confirm documentation, provide safe housing for animals, and assist public health officials in determining the cause of an animal’s illness or death.
The final rule was published in the Federal Register on May 13 and is effective August 1, 2024.
AVMA article: https://www.avma.org/news/dog-import-requirements-strengthened-prevent-canine-rabies-return
Here are some resources released by the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html