Fruits, vegetables and meats aren't the only products that carry harmful diseases into the United States. Live animals and birds can harbor diseases such as the exotic, highly contagious Newcastle disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regulates the importation of certain animal species and has specific regulations regarding pets, including dogs and cats, and nonhuman primates. USDA officials also said that military personnel, DoD civilian employees and their families should ensure their personal property, including privately owned vehicles, doesn't harbor pests. Insects and diseases can hide in packing material made from agricultural products like straw and burlap.
Some pests can live on packing material for a long time without food.
The tiny brownish-black khapra beetle, for example, can hide and survive for up to three years in the folds of burlap. It goes on a rampage when it reaches a supply of grain, officials said. Officials said no packages should be mailed to the United States that contain foods or other prohibited or restricted items. Don't mail sausages, meat products or soiled items. Service members are advised to check with APO and FPO personnel if they have further questions.