WAC 246-100-191   Animals -- General measures to prevent human disease.  (1) The purpose of this rule is to protect the public from acquiring diseases transmissible by animals and animal products.

     (2) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     (a) "Carapace" means a hard bony outer covering, such as the fused dorsal plates of a turtle.

     (b) "Immunocompromised" means having the immune system impaired or weakened as by drugs or illness.

     (c) "Person" means any individual, corporation, company, association, society, firm, partnership, joint stock company, or governmental agency; or the authorized agents of these entities.

     (d) "Poultry" means chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other domestic farm birds.

     (e) "Turtles" means all animals commonly known as turtles, tortoises, terrapins, and all other animals of the order Testudinata, class Reptilia, except marine species in the families Dermachelidae and Chelonidae.

     (f) "Vendor" means a person selling, trading, or transferring an animal to another person as a commercial activity.

     (3) A vendor transferring a reptile, amphibian, or poultry chick for the purpose of being kept as a pet shall provide the buyer or recipient a written notification including:

     (a) Information about possible human diseases contracted from reptiles, amphibians, or poultry chicks, such as Salmonella infection;

     (b) Who is at greater risk for contracting and experiencing severe illness related to contact with reptiles, amphibians, and poultry chicks, such as young, elderly, and immunocompromised persons; and

     (c) Disease prevention messages, such as proper hand washing and recommendations for high risk groups.

     (4) To meet the requirements of subsection (3) of this section, vendors may use materials provided by the department and available at www.doh.wa.gov.

     (5) Live turtles with a carapace length of less than four inches shall not be sold, held for sale, or offered for sale or distribution for the purpose of being kept as a pet.

     (6) All persons are prohibited from selling products containing milk, meat, hides, or hair that is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with anthrax as determined by the state health officer, local health officer, or a federal agency.

     (7) All persons are prohibited from selling, transferring, or acquiring an animal or animal product associated with a zoonotic disease outbreak or suspected outbreak as determined by the state health officer, local health officer, or a federal agency.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050 and 16.70.040(1). 11-04-017, § 246-100-191, filed 1/21/11, effective 1/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. 91-02-051 (Order 124B), recodified as § 246-100-191, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91; 88-07-063 (Order 308), § 248-100-191, filed 3/16/88.]