(a) Any infected flock shall be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission, who will impose a quarantine or otherwise restrict the movement of birds or eggs to prevent further spread of the infection. An infected flock may be disposed of in one of the following manners.
(1) Birds reacting to the pullorum-typhoid test may be removed from the flock and all remaining birds in the flock serologically tested. If, as a result of two consecutive negative flock tests, the first not less than 21 days later, the flock shall be considered to have a pullorum-typhoid status at least equivalent to that specified by the National Poultry Plan. The flock must not be treated with antibiotics or other drugs that may mask the presence of the disease.
(2) The flock may be moved to a state or federally inspected poultry processing establishment accompanied by a written certificate issued by the Texas Animal Health Commission or its representative.
(3) The flock may be depopulated without recompense to the owner under supervision of the Texas Animal Health Commission and/or Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL).
(b) The TVMDL may require the testing of any flock when such testing is necessary to the control and eradication of pullorum disease and fowl typhoid. The owner must pen and/or present his birds for testing at a time and place designated by a testing agent of TVMDL.
(1) All incubating eggs from infected flocks shall be removed from the incubator and destroyed under Texas Animal Health Commission and TVMDL supervision prior to hatching, except that by special permission eggs may be hatched under quarantine of the eggs and the progeny.
(2) Fowl typhoid (S. gallinarum) positive flock(s) must follow the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) rules and regulations outlined in §57.11(a)(4) of this title (relating to General Requirements), which states: "(4) When Fowl Typhoid (S. gallinarum) infection is confirmed in a flock, the farm on which the flock is located shall be placed under quarantine and the flock depopulated. Following depopulation and burial or incineration of all poultry, nest material, and litter, the premise and facilities shall be cleaned and disinfected. The premise shall remain quarantined for at least 180 days following depopulation during which time poultry shall not be reintroduced to the premises. Following removal of the quarantine, repopulation of the premises may be allowed with poultry that have been tested negative to fowl typhoid."
Source Note: The provisions of this §162.5 adopted to be effective November 16, 1993, 18 TexReg 7922.