Subject 40-13-4 INFECTIOUS AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Rule 40-13-4-.01 Definitions
| (1) | "Cattle" means bovine animals and bison. |
| (2) | "Cervidae" means farmed deer and any species of deer, elk, moose, or other Artiodactyla maintained in confinement. |
| (3) | "Chronic Wasting Disease" means the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that affects members of the Cervidae family. |
| (4) | "Equine" includes horses, mules, asses, and any other members of the Equidae species. |
| (5) | "Farmed deer" means fallow deer (Dama dama), axis deer (Axis axis), sika deer (Cervus nippon), red deer and elk (Cervus elaphus), reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus), and hybrids between these farmed deer species raised for the commercial sale of meat and other parts or for the sale of live animals. |
| (6) | "Garbage" means any refuse matter or by-product which contains animal tissue or which has been mixed with any animal tissue, whether liquid or otherwise. |
| (7) | "Livestock" means cattle, including bison, swine, equine, poultry, sheep, goats, ratites, and ruminants. |
| (8) | "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, or agency, department, or other political subdivision of the state or any other entity. |
Rule 40-13-4-.02 Reportable Diseases
| (1) | Any person, including, but not limited to, veterinarians, veterinary practice personnel, veterinary diagnostic laboratory personnel, persons associated with any livestock or poultry farm, ranch, sales establishment, transportation, or slaughter facility, as well as any person associated with a facility licensed under the Animal Protection Act or Bird Dealers Act shall report the following diseases. Departmental action on a reported disease will be dependent upon the potential for rapid spread, severe negative economic or public health consequences. Departmental actions may include, but may not be limited to, recording information, issuing a quarantine, conducting an animal disease investigation, collection of samples, requiring cleaning and disinfecting, and distributing animal disease alerts. |
| (2) | Clinical diagnosis,
laboratory confirmation or suspicion of any of the following diseases,
syndromes, or conditions shall be reported immediately by telephone to the
State Veterinarian (404) 656-3671 or (404) 656-3667 or the United States
Department of Agriculture Area Veterinarian in Charge (770) 922-7860.
African Horse Sickness African Swine Fever Avian Influenza Classical Swine Fever (Hog Cholera) Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides) Contagious Ecthyma (Soremouth) Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD, any type) Heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium) Lumpy Skin Disease Newcastle Disease (Exotic) Nipah Virus Peste des Petits Ruminants Plague (Yersinia pestis) Rift Valley Fever Rinderpest Screwworm (Cochliomyia (Callitroga) hominivorax, C. bezziana) Sheep Pox and Goat Pox Swine Vesicular Disease Vesicular or Ulcerative Conditions Vesicular Exanthema Vesicular Stomatitis (VS, any type) Suspicious disease conditions to be reported immediately include, but are not limited to, vesicular diseases, mucosal diseases, abortion storms in livestock of unknown etiology, undiagnosed bovine central nervous system conditions, unusual number of acute deaths in livestock, unusual myiasis or acariasis (flies, mites, ticks, etc.), and any apparently highly infectious or contagious condition of unknown etiology. |
| (3) | Laboratory confirmation of any of the
following diseases, syndromes, or conditions shall be reported by the
laboratory within 24 hours or by the close of the next business day to the
State Veterinarian or the United States Department of Agriculture Area
Veterinarian in Charge.
Aflatoxins Akabane Virus Disease Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) Aujeszky's Disease (Pseudorabies) Avian Chlamydiosis (Psittacosis and Ornithosis, Chlamydia psittaci) Avian Infectious Encephalomyelitis Avian Paramyxovirus Infection Babesiosis (in livestock, any species) Bluetongue Bonamiosis (Bonamia ostrea and Bonamia sp.) Borna Disease Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Bovine Trichomoniasis Brucellosis (Brucella. abortus, B. ovis, B. suis B. mellitensis) Camel Pox Virus Caseous Lymphadenitis (Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis) Chronic Wasting Disease Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin Coccidioidomycosis (Coccidioides immitis) Contagious Agalactia (Mycoplasma agalactiae, M. capricolum capricolum, M. putrefaciens, M. mycoides mycoides, M. mycoides mycoides LC) Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (Mycoplasma capricolum capripneumoniae) Contagious Equine Metritis (Taylorella equigenitalis) Dourine (Trypanosoma equiperdum) Enterovirus Encephalomyelitis (porcine) Ephemeral Fever Epizootic Hematopoietic Necrosis Epizootic Lymphangitis (Histoplasma farciminosum) Equine Encephalomyelitis (Eastern, Western, Venezuelan, West Nile Virus) Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) Equine Morbillivirus (Hendra virus) Equine Piroplasmosis (Babesiosis, Babesia (Piroplasma) equi, B. caballi) Equine Rhinopneumonitis (Type 1 and 4) Equine Viral Arteritis Feline Spongiform Encephalopathy Glanders (Burkholderia [Pseudomonas] mallei) Haplosporidiosis (Haplosporidium nelsoni and H. costale) Hemorrhagic Septicemia (Pasteurella multocida) Japanese Encephalitis Virus Ibaraki Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Infectious Laryngotracheitis (other than vaccine induced) Infectious Petechial Fever (Ehrlichia ondiri) Louping Ill (Ovine encephalomyelitis) Maedi-Visna/Ovine Progressive Pneumonia Malignant Catarrhal Fever (Bovine Malignant Catarrh) (AHV-1, OHV-2) Mange (in livestock)(Sarcoptes scabiei var bovis and ovis, Psoroptes ovis, Chorioptes bovis, Psorergates bos and ovis) Marteiliosis (Marteilia refringens and M. sydneyi) Menangle virus Melioidosis (Burkholderia [Pseudomonas] pseudomallei) Mikrocytosis (Mikrocytos mackini and M. roughleyi) Nairobi Sheep Disease Oncorhynchus Masou Virus Disease (salmon herpesvirus type 2) Paratuberculosis (Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis) Perkinsosis (Perkinsus marinus and P. olseni) Pullorum Disease (Salmonella pullorum) Q Fever (Coxiella burnetti) Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (Calicivirus disease) Rabies Ricin Toxicosis (toxin from Ricinis communis) Salmonella enteritidis Salmonellosis in equine (Salmonella typhimurium, S. agona, S. anatum, etc.) Scrapie Shigatoxin Spring Viremia of Carp Staphylococcal Enterotoxins Sweating Sickness T-2 Toxin Taura Syndrome Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (all types) Theileriosis (Theileria annulata, T. parva) Trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax, T.brucei brucei, T. evansi) Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium. bovis, M. tuberculosis) Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) Ulcerative Lymphangitis (Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis) Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (Egtved disease) Wesselsbron Disease White Spot Disease Yellowhead Disease Clinical diagnosis or laboratory confirmation of Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin) and Equine Strangles (Streptococcus equi) shall be reported. |
| (4) | Clinical diagnosis or laboratory
confirmation of any of the following diseases in an animal residing in or
recently purchased from an animal shelter, kennel, or pet dealer licensed under
the Animal Protection Act or a bird dealer licensed under the Bird Dealers Act
shall be reported within 24 hours or by the close of the next business day to
the State Veterinarian.
Avian Polyoma Virus Beak and Feather Disease Brucellosis (canine) Canine Parvovirus Corona Viral Enteritis Distemper Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Feline Leukemia Feline Panleukopenia (Cat Distemper) Generalized Demodectic Mange (Red Mange) Pox Disease Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondi) |
| (5) | Clinical illness due to any of
the following diseases in an animal residing in or recently purchased from an
animal shelter, kennel, or pet dealer licensed under the Animal Protection Act
shall be reported within 24 hours or by close of the next business day to the
State Veterinarian.
Ancylostomiasis (Hook Worms) Coccidiosis Giardiasis Microsporidiosis/Tricophytosis (Generalized Ringworm) Salmonellosis Toxocariasis (Round Worms) |
| (6) | Any evidence or reasonable suspicion of bioterrorism, including the intentional use of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or any component thereof, whether naturally occurring or bioengineered, to cause the death, illness, disease, or other biological malfunction in an animal, shall be reported immediately by telephone to local law enforcement (and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation?) and the State Veterinarian (404) 656-3671 or (404) 656-3667 or the United States Department of Agriculture Area Veterinarian in Charge (770) 922-7860. |
Rule 40-13-4-.03 Bovine Brucellosis Eradication Requirements
| (1) | The State of Georgia is designated as a Certified Brucellosis- Free State by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| (2) | The Georgia Department of Agriculture adopts the Brucellosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Uniform Methods and Rules are on file in the State Veterinarian's office and are available on request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (3) | Movement of cattle into Georgia shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the USDA Brucellosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules and the rules established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. |
| (4) | Official Tests: Only tests which have been conducted in the State/Federal Brucellosis Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Veterinarian will be considered official tests. All blood and milk samples and completed test records must be submitted to the appropriate laboratory within five (5) business days following collection. No person shall remove, deface, alter or otherwise change any official permanent mark, brand, tattoo, tag or other official identification on any cattle. |
| (5) | Brucellosis Milk Surveillance Test (BMST): Milk samples will be obtained from dairy herds at such intervals as deemed necessary by the State Veterinarian for the purpose of determining the brucellosis status of such herds and must be submitted to the State/Federal Brucellosis Laboratory for testing. An epidemiological investigation of all herds with suspicious BMST results will be conducted and an action plan implemented as approved by the State Veterinarian. |
| (6) | Individual Herd Certification: Individual herds may be designated as Certified Brucellosis-Free by complying with the requirements of the Brucellosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (7) | Calfhood Vaccination: Female cattle between four (4) and twelve (12) months of age may be vaccinated with a brucella vaccine approved by the USDA and the State Veterinarian. A licensed and accredited veterinarian must administer the vaccine. Vaccinates must be permanently identified by an official vaccination ear tag, registration brand or registration tattoo and be properly tattooed as vaccinates at the time of vaccination. The vaccination records must be forwarded to the State Veterinarian within five (5) business days. |
| (8) | Depopulation: Complete herd depopulation is the preferred method to control and eradicate brucellosis in an affected herd. The owner of a brucellosis-affected herd will be offered indemnity for complete herd depopulation provided state or federal funds are available. |
| (9) | Affected Herds: All herds affected with brucellosis will be quarantined. Any person who owns or has custody or control of any cattle affected with brucellosis or known reactor animals to an official brucellosis test must isolate such animals from all other livestock in Georgia. All herds and premises related by common ownership or management will be quarantined when reactors are disclosed in a herd. All female cattle four (4) months of age and older will be required to be vaccinated with an approved brucella vaccine if depopulation cannot be accomplished. The affected herd quarantine will be released no sooner than sixty days following depopulation or upon completion of four (4) consecutive and complete negative herd tests. The first three (3) tests will occur at thirty (30), ninety (90), and one hundred and eighty (180) days after the last reactor was removed from the premise. The fourth test will occur no sooner than three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after the last reactor left the premise. A complete herd test may be required six (6) to twelve (12) months following release of the quarantine if determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. Quarantined cattle from affected herds must be consigned on a Form VS 1-27 and transported directly from the farm of origin to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment or quarantined feedlot. Quarantined cattle shall not be consigned to a livestock market. Herds quarantined because of an association with an affected herd by common ownership or management in which no reactors have been disclosed may qualify for a conditional quarantine release after one negative complete herd test with the approval of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (10) | At-Risk Herds: Livestock disclosed in an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of brucellosis infection will be quarantined. The State Veterinarian and the USDA will develop a herd plan to eliminate the risk of brucellosis in these livestock. A complete herd test of the at-risk herds will be required within thirty (30) days following disclosure of the affected herd and every one hundred and eighty (180) days thereafter while the affected herd remains quarantined. The at-risk herds will qualify for quarantine release with the approval of the State Veterinarian and the USDA following a negative complete herd test conducted no sooner than one (1) year after the last reactor was removed from the affected herd. All at-risk female cattle will be vaccinated with an approved brucella vaccine. Calves twelve months of age and younger from adult vaccinated atrisk cattle herds, except calves in fence contact herds and herds that have commingled with affected herds, may be sold unrestricted within the one hundred and eighty (180) days following a negative complete herd test. Quarantined livestock from at-risk herds must be consigned on a Form VS 1-27 and transported directly from the farm of origin to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment or a quarantined feedlot. Quarantined livestock shall not be consigned to a livestock market. Any livestock moved into a designated area adjacent to an affected herd will be considered as an atrisk herd. |
| (11) | Post-Quarantine Releasing Test: All livestock released from quarantine and all livestock on a premise previously quarantined for brucellosis will be retested as determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (12) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the herd owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to pen all eligible animals for testing. If a herd owner fails to implement or comply with an approved herd plan, the State Veterinarian may require the herd to be depopulated. Dairy herds not in compliance with the rules of this chapter are subject to revocation of their Grand A milk-shipping permit. |
| (13) | Cleaning and Disinfecting: Affected premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
Rule 40-13-4-.04 Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Requirements
| (1) | The State of Georgia is designated as an Accredited Tuberculosis- Free State by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| (2) | The Georgia Department of Agriculture adopts the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. Said Uniform Methods and Rules are on file in the State Veterinarian's office and are available on request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (3) | Movement of cattle into Georgia shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the USDA Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules and the rules of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. |
| (4) | Official Tests: An accredited veterinarian must conduct all tuberculosis tests. The results must be reported on the official Tuberculosis Test Record and forwarded to the State Veterinarian's office within five (5) business days after the tests are completed. The testing veterinarian will report immediately by telephone all responding animals to the State Veterinarian and procedures will be carried out in accordance with the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (5) | Milk Ordinance Tests: The Georgia Department of Agriculture shall conduct tuberculosis tests on any dairy herd suspected of being infected with or exposed to Mycobacterium bovis at such times as deemed necessary by state and/or federal animal health officials. Georgia Department of Agriculture animal health officials reserve the right to supervise and monitor any tuberculosis testing and the associated control and eradication activities. |
| (6) | Quarantine: All herds containing any cattle responding to the caudal fold test will be placed under quarantine. These herds will be retested in accordance with the provisions of the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules and as required by the Georgia Department of Agriculture to qualify for quarantine release. |
| (7) | Individual Herd Accreditation: Individual herds may be designated as Accredited Tuberculosis-Free by complying with the requirements of the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (8) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the herd owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to pen all eligible animals for testing. |
| (9) | Cleaning and Disinfecting: Affected premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
Rule 40-13-4-.05 Bovine Trichomoniasis
Animals testing for Trichomoniasis must be isolated from all other bovine animals. Positive animals must be permitted to slaughter on a Form VS 1-27.
Rule 40-13-4-.06 Cervidae Brucellosis Eradication Requirements
| (1) | The Georgia Department of Agriculture adopts the Brucellosis in Cervidae: Uniform Methods and Rules in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. Said Uniform Methods and Rules are on file in the State Veterinarian's office and are available on request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (2) | Movement of cervids into Georgia shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the USDA Brucellosis in Cervidae: Uniform Methods and Rules and the rules established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. |
| (3) | Official Tests: Only tests which have been conducted in the State/Federal Brucellosis Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Veterinarian will be considered official tests. All blood samples and completed test records must be submitted to the appropriate laboratory within five (5) business days following collection. No person shall remove, deface, alter or otherwise change any official permanent mark, brand, tattoo, tag or other official identification on any cervid. |
| (4) | Individual Herd Designations: Individual herds may be designated as Certified Brucellosis-Free or Brucellosis Monitored by complying with the requirements of the Brucellosis in Cervidae: Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (5) | Depopulation: Complete herd depopulation is the preferred method to control and eradicate brucellosis in an affected herd. The owner of a brucellosis affected herd should consider depopulation whenever possible. |
| (6) | Affected Herds: All herds affected with brucellosis will be quarantined. Any person who owns or has custody or control of any cervids affected with brucellosis or known reactor animals to an official brucellosis test must isolate such animals from all other livestock in Georgia. All herds and premises related by common ownership or management will be quarantined when reactors are disclosed in a herd. The affected herd quarantine will be released no sooner than sixty days following depopulation or upon completion of four (4) consecutive and complete negative herd tests. The first three (3) tests will occur at thirty (30), ninety (90), and one hundred and eighty (180) days after the last reactor was removed from the premise. The fourth test will occur no sooner than three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after the last reactor left the premise. A complete herd test may be required six (6) to twelve (12) months following release of the quarantine if determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. Quarantined cervids from affected herds must be consigned on a Form VS 1-27 and transported directly from the farm of origin to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment or quarantined feedlot. Quarantined cervids shall not be consigned to a livestock market. Herds quarantined because of an association with an affected herd by common ownership or management in which no reactors have been disclosed may qualify for a conditional quarantine release after one negative complete herd test with the approval of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (7) | At-Risk Herds: Livestock disclosed in an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of brucellosis infection will be quarantined. The State Veterinarian and the USDA will develop a herd plan to eliminate the risk of brucellosis in these livestock. |
| (8) | Post-Quarantine Releasing Test: All livestock released from quarantine and all livestock on a premise previously quarantined for brucellosis will be retested as determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (9) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the herd owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to pen all eligible animals for testing. If a herd owner fails to implement or comply with an approved herd plan, the State Veterinarian may require the herd to be depopulated. |
| (10) | Cleaning and Disinfecting: Affected premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
Rule 40-13-4-.07 Cervidae Tuberculosis Eradication Requirements
| (1) | The Georgia Department of Agriculture adopts the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. Said Uniform Methods and Rules are on file in the State Veterinarian's office and are available on request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (2) | Movement of cervids into Georgia shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the USDA Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules and the rules of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. |
| (3) | Official Tests: Only accredited veterinarians specifically approved by the State Veterinarian are allowed to perform official tuberculosis tests on cervids. A list of official tests is found in the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. The caudal fold test is not approved for use on cervids. The results must be reported on the official Tuberculosis Test Record and forwarded to the State Veterinarian's office within five (5) business days after the tests are completed. The testing veterinarian will report immediately by telephone all responding animals to the State Veterinarian and procedures will be carried out in accordance with the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (4) | Quarantine: All herds containing any cervid responding to an official tuberculin test will be placed under quarantine. These herds will be retested in accordance with the provisions of the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules and as required by the Georgia Department of Agriculture to qualify for quarantine release. |
| (5) | Individual Herd Designations: Individual herds may be designated as Accredited, Qualified or Monitored by complying with the requirements of the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (6) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the herd owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to pen all eligible animals for testing. |
| (7) | Cleaning and Disinfecting: Affected premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
Rule 40-13-4-.08 Swine Brucellosis Eradication Requirements
| (1) | The State of Georgia is designated a Validated Brucellosis-Free State by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| (2) | The Georgia Department of Agriculture adopts the Swine Brucellosis Control/Eradication State-Federal-Industry Uniform Methods and Rules in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. Said Uniform Methods and Rules are on file in the State Veterinarian's office and are available upon request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (3) | Movement of swine into Georgia shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the USDA Swine Brucellosis Control/Eradication State-Federal-Industry Uniform Methods and Rules and the rules established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. |
| (4) | Official Tests: Only tests which have been conducted in the State/Federal Brucellosis Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Veterinarian will be considered official tests. All blood samples and completed test records must be submitted to the appropriate laboratory within five (5) business days following collection. No person shall remove, deface, alter or otherwise change any official permanent mark, tattoo, tag or other official identification on any swine. |
| (5) | Individual Herd Validation: Individual herds may be designated as Validated Brucellosis-Free by complying with the requirements of the State-Federal-Industry Uniform Methods and Rules. |
| (6) | Depopulation: Swine herds affected with brucellosis are required to depopulate unless an exemption is given by the State Veterinarian. |
| (7) | Affected Herds: All herds affected with brucellosis will be quarantined. Any person who owns or has custody or control of any swine affected with brucellosis or known reactor animals to an official brucellosis test must isolate such animals from all other livestock in Georgia. All herds and premises related by common ownership or management will be quarantined when reactors are disclosed in a herd. The affected herd quarantine will be released no sooner than thirty (30) days following depopulation. If an exemption from the depopulation requirement is granted, the affected herd quarantine will be released upon completion of four (4) consecutive and complete negative herd tests. The first three (3) tests will occur at thirty (30), ninety (90), and one hundred and eighty (180) days after the last reactor was removed from the premise. The fourth test will occur no sooner than three hundred and sixty-five (365) days after the last reactor left the premise. A complete herd test may be required six (6) to twelve (12) months following release of the quarantine if determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. All swine in an affected herd must be identified by an official eartag. A Form VS 1-27 must accompany quarantined swine moved from affected herds. Herds quarantined because of an association with an affected herd by common ownership or management in which no reactors have been disclosed may qualify for a conditional quarantine release after one negative complete herd test with the approval of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (8) | At-Risk Herds: Swine disclosed in an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of brucellosis infection will be quarantined. The State Veterinarian and the USDA will develop a herd plan to eliminate the risk of brucellosis in these animals. |
| (9) | Post-Quarantine Releasing Test: All swine released from quarantine and all swine on a premise previously quarantined for brucellosis may be retested as determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (10) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the herd owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to facilitate the testing of all eligible swine. If the owner of a quarantined herd fails to implement or comply with an approved herd plan, the State Veterinarian may require the herd to be depopulated. |
| (11) | Cleaning and Disinfecting: Affected premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
Rule 40-13-4-.09 Swine Pseudorabies Eradication Requirements
| (1) | The Georgia Department of Agriculture adopts the Pseudorabies Eradication State-Federal-Industry Programs Standards in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. Said Program Standards are on file in the office of the State Veterinarian and are available upon request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Program Standards. |
| (2) | Movement of swine into Georgia shall be in accordance with the recommendation of the USDA Pseudorabies Eradication State-Federal-Industry Program Standards and the rules established by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. |
| (3) | Official Tests: Only tests which have been conducted in the State/Federal Brucellosis Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Veterinarian will be considered official tests. All blood samples and completed test records must be submitted to the appropriate laboratory within five (5) business days following collection. No person shall remove, deface, alter or otherwise change any official permanent mark, tattoo, tag or other official identification on any swine. |
| (4) | Individual Herd Qualification: Individual herds may be designated as Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative by complying with the Program Standards. |
| (5) | Pseudorabies Vaccine: The State Veterinarian controls the use and distribution of pseudorabies vaccine in Georgia. The use of vaccine and each shipment of vaccine into Georgia must be approved in writing by the State Veterinarian. |
| (6) | Depopulation: Swine herds affected with pseudorabies are required to depopulate unless an exemption is given by the State Veterinarian. |
| (7) | Affected Herds: All herds affected with pseudorabies will be quarantined. Any person who owns or has custody or control of any swine affected with pseudorabies or known positive animals to an official pseudorabies test shall isolate such animals from all other livestock in Georgia. All herds and premises related by common ownership or management will be quarantined when positives are disclosed in a herd. The affected herd quarantine will be released no sooner than thirty (30) days following depopulation or upon completion of a negative complete herd test performed no sooner than thirty (30) days after the last positive animal was removed from the premise. A complete herd test may be required following release of the quarantine if determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. All swine in an affected herd must be identified by an official eartag. A permit from the USDA or the Georgia Department of Agriculture must accompany animals moved from a quarantined herd. Herds quarantined because of an association with an affected herd by common ownership or management in which no positives have been disclosed may qualify for a conditional quarantine release after one negative complete herd test with the approval of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (8) | At-Risk Herds: Swine disclosed in an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of pseudorabies infection will be quarantined. At-risk herds, including feeding operations, within a two-mile radius of an affected herd must be tested within sixty (60) days following disclosure of the affected herd. The State Veterinarian and the USDA will develop a herd plan to eliminate the risk of pseudorabies in these animals. |
| (9) | Post-Quarantine Releasing Test: All swine released from quarantine and all swine on a premise previously quarantined for pseudorabies may be retested as determined necessary by the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
| (10) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the herd owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to facilitate the testing of all eligible swine. If a herd owner fails to implement or comply with an approved herd plan, the State Veterinarian may require the herd to be depopulated. |
| (11) | Cleaning and Disinfecting: Affected premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction of the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
Rule 40-13-4-.10 Garbage Feeding to Swine
| (1) | Definitions.
|
| (2) | No garbage shall be fed to swine or placed in such a location as to permit its consumption by swine, except that a person may feed garbage from his or her own household provided such swine are slaughtered and consumed on the property on which said swine are raised. |
| (3) | Quarantine, Testing,
Slaughter.
|
| (4) | Any person who provides garbage to be fed to swine, whether by intent or neglect shall be considered to be in violation of this rule. |
| (5) | Enforcement. Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished as provided by law. Each day that such violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense. |
Rule 40-13-4-.11 Equine Infectious Anemia
| (1) | Official Tests: Only tests which have been conducted in a State, Federal or commercial laboratory approved by the Georgia State Veterinarian and operated under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture will be considered official tests. |
| (2) | Affected Equine: All equine that are positive to an official test for equine infectious anemia will be euthanized or consigned on a Form VS 1-27 and transported to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment, or quarantined for life. All equine positive to an official test for equine infectious anemia will be branded by a method approved by the State Veterinarian. Equine quarantined for life must be isolated a minimum of 200 yards from any other equine or public road and comply with an action plan approved by the State Veterinarian. |
| (3) | At-Risk Equine: Equine disclosed by an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of equine infectious anemia will be quarantined. The quarantine will be released after two negative tests are conducted at least 45 days apart. The second negative test may occur no sooner than forty-five (45) days following the last possible exposure to equine infectious anemia. |
| (4) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the equine owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to test all eligible equine. If an equine owner fails to implement or comply with an approved action plan, the State Veterinarian may require the humane destruction of affected or at-risk equine. |
Rule 40-13-4-.12 Equine Brucellosis
| (1) | Official Test: Only tests which have been conducted in the State/Federal Brucellosis Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the State Veterinarian will be considered official tests. |
| (2) | Affected Equine: Any equine classified as a brucellosis reactor will be euthanized, or consigned on a Form VS 1-27 to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment, or quarantined for life to a premise approved by the State Veterinarian. However, equine brucellosis reactors with evidence of a draining fistulous withers or poll evil must be euthanized or consigned on a Form VS 1-27 and transported to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment. All Equine brucellosis reactors shall be permanently identified by a method approved by the State Veterinarian. |
| (3) | At-Risk Livestock: Livestock disclosed by an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of brucellosis infection will be quarantined. The State Veterinarian will develop an action plan to eliminate the risk of brucellosis infection. |
| (4) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the livestock owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to test all eligible animals. If a livestock owner fails to implement or comply with an approved herd plan, the State Veterinarian may require the livestock to be depopulated. |
Rule 40-13-4-.13 Equine Piroplasmosis
| (1) | Official Tests: Only tests which have been conducted by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory or a laboratory approved by the Georgia State Veterinarian will be considered official tests. |
| (2) | Affected Equine: All equine that are positive to an official test for equine piroplasmosis will be euthanized, or consigned on a Form VS 1-27 to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment, or quarantined for life and comply with an action plan approved by the State Veterinarian. All equine positive to an official test for equine Piroplasmosis shall be identified by a method approved by the State Veterinarian. |
| (3) | At-Risk Equine: Equine disclosed by an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of equine piroplasmosis will be quarantined. Owners of quarantined equine must comply with an action plan approved by the State Veterinarian. The quarantine will be released after two negative tests are conducted at least thirty (30) days apart. The second negative test may occur no sooner than thirty (30) days following the last possible exposure to equine piroplasmosis. |
| (4) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the equine owner to provide the necessary facilities and labor to test all eligible equine. If an equine owner fails to implement or comply with an approved action plan, the State Veterinarian may require the humane destruction of affected or at-risk equine. |
Rule 40-13-4-.14 Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)
| (1) | Owners of equine determined to be affected with or at-risk of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) must comply with an action plan approved by the State Veterinarian. |
| (2) | Mares and stallions from countries where CEM is known to exist (hereinafter "CEM country") shall be allowed entry into Georgia only by special permit issued by the State Veterinarian. All equine granted a special permit will be quarantined upon entry into the state. |
| (3) | Application
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| (4) | Premises
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| (5) | Testing and treatment of
stallions and mares
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| (6) | At-Risk Equine: Equine disclosed by an epidemiological investigation to be at-risk of CEM will be quarantined. The quarantine will be released after the at-risk equine meet the requirements outlined in 40-13-4-.13(5) "Testing and treatment of stallions and mares". |
| (7) | Owner's Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the equine owner to provide the necessary facilities, resources and labor to determine the CEM status of all eligible equine. If an equine owner fails to implement or comply with an approved action plan, the State Veterinarian may require the humane destruction of all affected and at-risk equine. |
Rule 40-13-4-.15 Scrapie
| (1) | This section will use the term "flock" in reference to a group of animals. The term "herd" has equal meaning and may be substituted for the term "flock". |
| (2) | The Georgia Department of Agriculture adopts the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Standards in effect by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Program Standards are on file in the State Veterinarian's office and are available on request. The State Veterinarian reserves the option of applying rules that may exceed the minimum set forth in the Program Standards. |
| (3) | Infected Flocks: All flocks infected with scrapie will be quarantined. Any person who owns or has custody or control of any animals infected with scrapie must isolate such animals from all other sheep, goats, and cattle. All flocks and premises related by common ownership or management will be quarantined when scrapie is disclosed in a flock. The quarantine will be released when scrapie has been eliminated in the flock in accordance with Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 54 and 79. |
| (4) | At-Risk Flocks: Sheep and goats identified by an epidemiological investigation to be a source or trace flock to a scrapie-infected flock will be quarantined. The State Veterinarian and the USDA will develop a plan to eliminate the risk of scrapie infection in these animals. The quarantine will be released when the conditions to eliminate the risk of scrapie infection outlined in Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 54 and 79 have been met. |
| (5) | Cleaning and Disinfecting: Infected premises shall be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with instruction from the State Veterinarian and the USDA. |
Rule 40-13-4-.16 Chronic Wasting Disease Controls
| (1) | All farmed deer over six months of age that die other than by slaughter must have samples submitted to an approved veterinary diagnostic laboratory for Chronic Wasting Disease testing. This surveillance may be at the expense of the owner or agent unless supplementary funds are made available. |
| (2) | Farmed deer slaughtered in licensed meat establishments must be made available for sample collection and submission to an approved veterinary diagnostic laboratory for chronic Wasting Disease testing. This surveillance may be at the expense of the owner or agent unless supplementary funds are made available. |
| (3) | Farmed deer may not be offered for sale or trade in interstate or intrastate commerce unless the herd participates in a Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance program approved by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. |
| (4) | Penalties for any violations of this Rule shall be in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia as expressed in Georgia Department of Agriculture Rule 40-13-8-.06. |
Rule 40-13-4-.17 Contagious and Infectious Disease Programs
| (1) | In the eradication of infectious and contagious diseases the Commissioner is authorized to seize and require destruction of affected animals and materials. The cost of such destruction of animals and materials shall be borne by the owner. |
| (2) | The Commissioner is authorized to pay indemnity for livestock destroyed in an eradication program provided that funds are available. |
Rule 40-13-4-.18 Penalty for Violation
| (1) | Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. |
| (2) | Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, agency, department, or other political subdivision of the State or any other entity that feeds or provides garbage to swine will be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, will be punished as provided by the law. Each day that such violations occur will constitute a separate offense. |