During the monkeypox outbreak in the United States, which agency restricted the importation of African rodents?

During the monkeypox outbreak in the United States, which agency restricted the importation of African rodents?

• A. FDA
• B. CDC
• C. USDA
• D. NIH

Answer: (B)

The action reflects public health authority to prevent spread of disease by controlling the animal sources that can carry it. During the monkeypox outbreak in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restricted the importation of African rodents to stop introducing the virus through exotic pet trade and animal shipments. This move targeted the animal reservoir and the potential chain of transmission to people, which is exactly within the CDC’s remit for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. Other agencies have different roles—FDA focuses on product safety, USDA handles animal health and agriculture-related concerns, and NIH is focused on research—so they weren’t the ones issuing this import ban in that outbreak context.

The action reflects public health authority to prevent spread of disease by controlling the animal sources that can carry it. During the monkeypox outbreak in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restricted the importation of African rodents to stop introducing the virus through exotic pet trade and animal shipments. This move targeted the animal reservoir and the potential chain of transmission to people, which is exactly within the CDC’s remit for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. Other agencies have different roles—FDA focuses on product safety, USDA handles animal health and agriculture-related concerns, and NIH is focused on research—so they weren’t the ones issuing this import ban in that outbreak context.