WAC 246-100-201   Birds -- Measures to prevent psittacosis.  (1) Definitions specific to this section:

     (a) "Breeder" means a person or persons propagating birds for purpose of sale, trade, gift, or display;

     (b) "Displayer" means a person, owner, or entity other than a public or private zoological park showing, exhibiting, or allowing a person or persons to handle or access a bird in a place open to the public or in a health care facility;

     (c) "Leg band" means a smooth plastic or metal cylinder, either open (seamed) or closed (seamless), designed to be used to encircle a leg of a bird including permanent inscription of identification indicating:

     (i) Code for individual bird, and

     (ii) Code for breeder source except when open bands identify vendor rather than breeder.

     (d) "Psittacine bird" or "bird" means all birds commonly known as:

     (i) Parrots,

     (ii) Macaws,

     (iii) Cockatoos,

     (iv) Lovebirds,

     (v) Parakeets, and

     (vi) All other birds of the order psittaciformes.

     (e) "Vendor" means a person or entity selling, trading, or giving a bird to another person or entity.

     (2) A person selling, trading, or otherwise transferring a bird shall identify each bird by:

     (a) A coded and closed (seamless) leg band;

     (b) A United States department of agriculture open (seamed) leg band; or

     (c) An open (seamed) leg band only in cases where an original and closed (seamless) leg band was lost or required replacement due to injury or potential injury to the bird.

     (3) A vendor transferring a bird to other than the general public shall maintain a record of transfer including acquisition, sales, and trade of a bird, for at least one year and including:

     (a) Date of transaction;

     (b) Name and address of the recipient and source;

     (c) Number and type, including the common name of the bird transferred; and

     (d) Leg band codes, including breeder or vendor and individual bird codes, omitting individual bird code only upon initial transfer of a bird propagated by the breeder.

     (4) A vendor transferring a bird to the general public shall provide each buyer or recipient with:

     (a) A sales slip or written document including all information required in subsection (3)(a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section; and

     (b) A written warning or caution notice including:

     (i) Information about possible human infection or disease caused by birds, especially psittacosis, parrot fever, and ornithosis;

     (ii) Signs of infection or a sick bird including:

     (A) Nasal discharge,

     (B) Sneezing,

     (C) Coughing,

     (D) Ruffled feathers,

     (E) Lethargy, and

     (F) Diarrhea.

     (iii) Signs and symptoms of an illness in a human including, but not limited to:

     (A) Chills,

     (B) Fever,

     (C) Headache,

     (D) Cough, and

     (E) Muscle aches.

     (iv) Information that nasal discharge and droppings of an infected or sick bird may cause illness in humans; and

     (v) Advice to consult veterinarian or health care provider, as appropriate, if signs or symptoms occur.

     (5) A vendor shall post a readable sign in a public area with a warning described in subsection (4)(b) of this section.

     (6) When investigation of a human case of psittacosis indicates probable infection from a bird, the local health officer shall:

     (a) Order collection of blood or other appropriate samples from the suspect bird or birds for appropriate laboratory tests to rule out disease; or

     (b) Use protocols established in Communicable Diseases Manual, seventeenth edition, James Chin, MD, MPH, editor, 2000. A copy of this publication is available for review at the department and at each local health department; and

     (c) Have authority to enforce requirements of this section on a nonpsittacine bird or birds when:

     (i) There is suspected exposure to an infected bird, or

     (ii) There is evidence a bird caused a disease.

     (7) When a local health officer orders a quarantine of a bird or birds, the vendor shall:

     (a) Cooperate with the local health officer, and

     (b) Assume costs associated with action.

     (8) Upon confirmation of psittacosis, vendors shall follow directions issued by the local health officer to:

     (a) Place the birds under antibiotic treatment with environmental cleaning and sanitizing; or

     (b) Destroy all birds on the premises followed by environmental cleaning and sanitizing; and

     (c) Assume costs associated with psittacosis prevention and control action ordered by local and state health officer;

     (d) Prohibit sale or addition of birds to inventory; and

     (e) Prevent contact of any bird with the public.

     (9) A person exhibiting or displaying a bird or birds in a place or area used or occupied by the public shall exhibit the bird or birds in a manner preventing human exposure to the birds and bird discharges except:

     (a) In single-purpose pet shops and aviaries, and

     (b) At bird shows if:

     (i) A room containing a bird or birds is separated from other areas and activities, and

     (ii) The room entrance has a sign warning a person about potential exposure to psittacosis.

     (10) Shipment and embargo of birds.

     (a) Any person or entity receiving a psittacine bird or birds from points outside Washington state shall:

     (i) Comply with Title 9 CFR, parts 92.3 and 92.8(b);

     (ii) Refuse receipt of any bird originating from premises where psittacosis infection is suspected or known; and

     (iii) Refuse receipt of any bird from a premise quarantined for psittacosis.

     (b) The state health officer is authorized to:

     (i) Order placement and removal of an embargo upon shipment of a live bird or birds into Washington state, and

     (ii) Order any action necessary to control an outbreak or potential outbreak of psittacosis in Washington state.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 00-23-120, § 246-100-201, filed 11/22/00, effective 12/23/00; 92-02-019 (Order 225B), § 246-100-201, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92; 91-02-051 (Order 124B), recodified as § 246-100-201, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91; 88-07-063 (Order 308), § 248-100-201, filed 3/16/88.]