China’s ruling that all US cargo entering China would have to be fumigated to prevent the Zika virus is causing issues with US companies, some of which have been turned away for noncompliance, according to reports.
All cargo entering Chinese ports from the US have to hold a valid mosquito eradication certificate, but this has caused confusion over how this will affect different types of cargo from different transport.
Some US cargo ships have been turned away at port, causing US companies to begin to issue warnings to clients.
The Zika virus is spread through mosquitos, and although China has had no reported case of the virus yet, they are being especially vigilant.
Technical Paper: The Chinese Port System: Competition and Cooperation
The official agency report states that “port authorities shall adopt effective anti-mosquito measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, reducing the mosquito density of the port. Inspection and quarantine authorities shall strengthen port health supervision, to prevent the spread of mosquitoes in the port Zika virus and other infectious diseases.”
The Zika virus has gained particular notoriety in recent months due to the fact that health warnings were issued for all people, especially women who wish to have children, travelling to Brazil for the Olympic Games, as an epidemic was announced there.
Brazil has seen more than one scandal over the Olympic Games, PTI reported in July, 2016 that health specialists were warning of the health risks to sailing and rowing athletes due to raw sewage in the bay they were competing in.
