SECTION 35:15-19-3. Hatcheries and infected flocks

(a)   Hatcheries. All hatcheries shall be approved by the Official State Agency prior to operations.

(1)   The application shall include:

(A)   Name and address.

(B)   Incubator capacity.

(C)   Types of poultry hatched.

(D)   Name and address of supplier flocks of hatching eggs and/or baby chicks.

(E)   Pullorum-typhoid status of supplier flocks.

(2)   Approved hatcheries shall:

(A)   Allow entry of state inspectors for inspection of facilities and records during normal operating hours.

(B)   Maintain facilities in a clean and sanitary manner including fumigation practices when indicated.

(C)   Obtain hatching eggs and/or baby chicks only from flocks that meet U.S.D.A. pullorum-typhoid clean status.

(D)   Maintain records of origin and disposition of all hatching eggs and baby chicks.

(E)   Obtain hatching eggs only from flocks that allow premise inspection by the state inspector including check-testing for pullorum-typhoid as needed.

(b)   Reporting of poultry diseases. All persons performing poultry disease diagnostic services are required to report all positive cases of reportable diseases to the State Veterinarian within 48 hours of classification. Permitted testers are only required to report positive test results.

(c)   Epidemiological investigation. Upon receipt of a report of pullorum or typhoid disease in poultry, the State Veterinarian shall direct an authorized representative to determine the origin and route of transmission of the disease.

(d)   Issuance of quarantine. Flocks found to be infected or suspected of being infected with pullorum or typhoid shall be quarantined by the State Veterinarian. Quarantined flocks or any portion shall be removed from the premises only with the written permission of the State Veterinarian or authorized representative. A quarantined flock found to be infected with Salmonella pullorum or Salmonella gallinarum shall be kept under quarantine until disposed of or retested in a manner approved by the Department.

(e)   Testing requirements for release of quarantine. Any flock suspected of being infected may be released from quarantine upon completion of a complete negative flock test. All testing of quarantined flocks shall be under the supervision of a state inspector.

(f)   Disposal of quarantined flocks or products. Any infected flock shall be disposed of in one of the following manners:

(1)   Birds reacting to the pullorum-typhoid test shall be removed from the flock and may be submitted to an authorized laboratory for bacteriological examination at the discretion of the Official State Agency. If, as a result of two consecutive negative flock tests at least 21 days apart, the first test not less than 21 days after the last known reactor was removed, the flock shall be considered to have a pullorum-typhoid clean status. The flock shall not be treated with antibiotics or other drugs that may mask the presence of the diseases. The number of poultry removed from a flock to be submitted for laboratory confirmation of serologic test may be all reactor birds up to four (4).

(2)   The owner or caretaker of any flock found or suspected to be infected with pullorum-typhoid disease shall present and restrain their birds for testing at a time and place deemed appropriate by the Official State Agency.

(3)   All hatching eggs from infected flocks shall be removed from the incubator and destroyed under supervision prior to hatching, except that by special permission of the Official State Agency eggs may be hatched under quarantine.

(4)   An infected or quarantined flock may be moved to a state or federally inspected poultry processing establishment for immediate slaughter if accompanied by a written certificate issued by a state inspector.

(5)   An infected or quarantined flock may be depopulated at the owner's request under the supervision of a state inspector.

(g)   Cleaning and disinfecting. Premises found to have housed, incubated, brooded, or ranged an infected flock shall be cleansed and disinfected under the supervision of the Official State Agency within 15 days if deemed necessary. An extension of time for cleaning and disinfecting may be granted by the Official State Agency. No infected premises or hatcheries shall be restocked with poultry or eggs until the cleaning and disinfecting requirement is certified complete.

[Source: Amended at 17 Ok Reg 2828, eff 7-13-00]