[Nhcoll-l] Inquiring about COVID and specimen quarantine
Dirk Neumann
neumann at snsb.de
Thu Apr 16 02:31:28 EDT 2020
Dear Cody
indeed, potential (overambitious) restrictions to fieldwork seem to be
the biggest threat, especially in times where it is of utmost importance
to intensify research to understand what is going on. And the
CETAF/DiSSCo approach clearly points into this direction (thanks for
sharing the link again).
It might be worth keeping in mind: currently, a huge amount of highly
active COVID-samples are shipped around the globe quite smoothly. Our
current (intentional) regulatory frameworks and laws are well suited and
designed to accommodate the transfer and shipping of such samples. _We_
need to equip ourselves so that colleagues going into the field,
handling or shipping such kinds of materials know these regs, understand
how to read them and to communicate relevant information to authorities
in charge for implementing them.
If we look closely, there are already a lot of exemptions and
possibilities we can use, but my impression is some of our research
colleagues are not familiar with them. So maybe not 'retool', but
increased self-assuredness of existing tools and knowing by heart how to
use them would be the deal. _Prior_ is the keyword. You should get into
touch with your authorities before you start planning your field trip,
prior to shipping of samples the necessary paperwork/exemptions should
be in place, prior to import of potentially infectious material all
people and agents in charge to handle your material during importation
are informed, etc.
All the best
Dirk
Am 15.04.2020 um 20:32 schrieb Cody Thompson:
> Elizabeth et al:
>
> Just to follow up on Dirk's message, I personally worry most about
> restrictions related to fieldwork. There already have been a number
> of recommendations made by various government agencies restricting
> field-based bat research. I personally worry that restricting
> research at this level actually will lead to knowledge gaps
> between the organismal biology necessary to inform biomedical
> research. Similar restrictions occurred with rodents following the
> discovery of hantavirus in the 4-corners area. Hopefully, the current
> restrictions are retooled to balance the need for basic science,
> active surveillance, and vouchering of host specimens.
>
> That said, CETAF and DiSSCo have formed an international task force to
> address some of the questions you have. I believe information on the
> task force was posted on this forum. Here is the link
> <https://www.dissco.eu/joint-covid-19-task-force/> for anyone
> interested in participating.
>
> Take care,
> Cody
>
> Cody W. Thompson, PhD
> Mammal Collections Manager
> & Assistant Research Scientist
> University of Michigan
> Museum of Zoology
> 3600 Varsity Drive
> Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
> Office: (734) 615-2810
> Fax: (734) 763-4080
> Email: cwthomp at umich.edu <mailto:cwthomp at umich.edu>
> Website: codythompson.org <http://codythompson.org>
>
> “Museums have two main objectives: the increase of knowledge and the
> diffusion of knowledge.”
>
> -Alexander Ruthven
>
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 15, 2020 at 9:12 AM Dirk Neumann <neumann at snsb.de
> <mailto:neumann at snsb.de>> wrote:
>
> Dear Merritt,
>
> as far as I know there are currently restrictions on the shipment
> of parcels itself, as some parcel companies temporarily offer
> limited services to for specific countries or countries themselves
> closed borders for postal shipments/parcels. As these
> bans/restrictions strongly vary from company to company and also
> have a strong country-dependent component, it might be worth
> checking potentially existing import/export bans directly on the
> websites of respective couriers.
>
> Regarding the specimens itself, I have not heard anything about
> specific COVID restrictions. In general, animal health regulations
> and veterinarian law is designed to address transmissible diseases
> in general (including viral infections and/or potential vectors).
> This of course also applies for any preserved specimen we usually
> ship. From this perspective, I would not expect any COVID-specific
> restrictions in veterinarian law stipulating import and export of
> animals and parts thereof, others than currently in place. If
> there would be amendments, these would have to fit into the
> current regulatory framework of veterinarian law (why should Ebola
> infected bats be treated different then potentially COVID infected
> ones?).
>
> With regard to existing regulatory frameworks (at least this is
> the case for any kind of live/fresh dead/dead preserved/dead
> fixed shipments animals between North America and Europe), there
> are two basic principles:
>
> 1. Health Certificates issues by veterinarian authorities
> confirming that the animal/specimen/part thereof poses no health
> risk (and could not act as vector) (proof of save sourcing)
> 2. The animal material is treated in a way that it poses no health
> risk (proof of safe treatment)
>
> The latter usually requires treatments that definitely inactivate
> any germ or virus, e.g. cooking, fixing, etc. 'Inactive' and
> 'lifeless' is a fundamental requirement for a good museum
> specimen. This must be properly documented when specimens are
> shipped via international borders to avoid any hassles with vets
> anyway. Thus, I would not think that there will be COVID-specific
> exemptions for fixed / preserved museum specimens. Otherwise this
> would have merged for similar transmissible virus diseases we saw
> earlier, e.g. during times of bird flue, swine flue, Ebola etc. We
> imported fixed fish when Ebola was still viral in Central Africa
> without any problems based on current legislation and the
> aforementioned concepts.
>
> If any kind of fresh material. i.e. non-fixed with potentially
> active protein-components inside specimens, it is advised to get
> into contact with your local veterinarian inspection post _before_
> materials are sent, as enforcement of (federal) veterinarian law
> usually has a local component of those implementing the rules
> during on-spot inspections.
>
> Hope this helps
> Dirk
>
>
> Am 15.04.2020 um 14:27 schrieb Elizabeth Merritt:
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> The Alliance is compiling a list of collections-related COVID
>> issues, and I hope you can help me add the issues relevant to
>> natural history specimens. Has anyone been discussing the
>> current or future impact of COVID on shipment and intake of
>> specimens? E.g., bans on shipment of some specimens (based on
>> taxa, locality) as we learn more about what species can be
>> vectors for coronavirus; recommendations for quarantine or
>> treatment of some incoming specimens; need for research to inform
>> these decisions.
>>
>> Thank you for any information you can provide.
>>
>> Elizabeth
>>
>> Elizabeth Merritt
>>
>> Vice President, Strategic Foresight and
>>
>> Founding Director, Center for the Future of Museums
>>
>> American Alliance of Museums
>>
>> 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 1005
>>
>> Arlington, VA 22202
>>
>> (202)218-7661
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
>
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> neumann(a)snsb.de <http://snsb.de>
>
> Postanschrift:
>
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
> Zoologische Staatssammlung München
> Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Storage
> Münchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 München
>
> Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
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>
> ---------
>
> Dirk Neumann
>
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> neumann(a)snsb.de <http://snsb.de>
>
> postal address:
>
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
> Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Storage
> Muenchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 Munich (Germany)
>
> Visit our section at:
> http://www.zsm.mwn.de/sektion/ichthyologie-home/
>
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> _______________________________________________
> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>
--
Dirk Neumann
Tel: 089 / 8107-111
Fax: 089 / 8107-300
neumann(a)snsb.de
Postanschrift:
Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
Zoologische Staatssammlung München
Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Storage
Münchhausenstr. 21
81247 München
Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
http://www.zsm.mwn.de/sektion/ichthyologie-home/
---------
Dirk Neumann
Tel: +49-89-8107-111
Fax: +49-89-8107-300
neumann(a)snsb.de
postal address:
Bavarian Natural History Collections
The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Storage
Muenchhausenstr. 21
81247 Munich (Germany)
Visit our section at:
http://www.zsm.mwn.de/sektion/ichthyologie-home/
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