(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.]