LOUISVILLE, Ky. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at the Louisville Port of Entry blocked a shipment Nov. 1 with 41 dead bats and 41 dead birds. 

According to CBP, the shipment was from Nigeria and headed to a residence in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was referred to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which ordered the shipment to be destroyed. 

The bats were identified as Straw Colored Fruit Bats and Village Weavers by local US Fish and Wildlife.

“Louisville’s CBP Agriculture Specialists are focused on their mission to prevent entry of prohibited items from entering the United States,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Chicago Field Office director of field operations. “These seizures clearly show how critical their role is in preventing diseases from entering the United States.”

CBP said bats carry diseases such as Ebola, Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, Sudden Acute Severe Respiratory Syndrome and rabies. Dead birds can introduce diseases such as Newcastle disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, both of which are highly contagious.

“CBP’s agriculture specialists mitigate the threat of non-native pests, diseases and contaminants entering the United States,” said Philip Onken, Louisville port director. "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.”

CBP screens international travelers and cargo and said it searches for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, invasive weeds, pests and other potentially harmful products.