LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Agriculture specialists in Louisville stopped a shipment container carrying over 80 dead bats and birds in early November, according to a press release.
The release says the shipment came from Nigeria and was heading to a home in West Palm Beach, Florida. The shipment was manifested as “Yam Flour Sponge" with the intention of bypassing detection.
When U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists (CBPAS) at Louisville Port of Entry looked into the shipment they discovered 41 dead bats and 41 dead birds.
Local US Fish & Wildlife agents identified the bats as Straw Colored Fruit Bats and Village Weavers. Both breeds are native to sun-Saharan Africa and similar climates.
“CBP’s agriculture specialists mitigate the threat of non-native pests, diseases, and contaminants entering the United States,” Louisville Port Director Philip Onken said. “CBP agriculture specialists have extensive training and experience in the biological sciences and agricultural inspections, inspecting tens of thousands of international passengers and cargo shipments at our air, land and sea ports of entry.”
The shipment was referred to the CDC and the department ordered the shipment to be destroyed.
“Louisville’s CBP Agriculture Specialists are focused on their mission to prevent entry of prohibited items from entering the United States,” Director of Field Operations LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke said. “These seizures clearly show how critical their role is in preventing diseases from entering the United States.”
The release says bats are known carriers of infectious biological agents such as Ebola, Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, SARS and rabies. Dead birds also have the potential for introducing diseases such as Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) which are both highly contagious diseases among avians.
