Subchapter B. CONTROL OF RABIES
Sec.
16.21. Report of suspicion of infection.
16.22. Special quarantine required for domestic animals.
16.23. Domestic animal bites.
16.24. Wild animal bites.
16.25. General quarantine order.
Cross References This subchapter cited in 7 Pa. Code § 16.1 (relating to definitions).
§ 16.21. Report of suspicion of infection.
A veterinarian, physician or public health officer who suspects that an animal may be infected with rabies shall report the suspicion to the Department.
§ 16.22. Special quarantine required for domestic animals.
(a) A domestic animal suspected of having or having been exposed to rabies will be quarantined by the Department.
(1) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies will be placed under a special quarantine order by the Department. To prevent exposure to humans and other animals, the order shall cover a single premises or a single animal or a number of animals when confined or contained in or on the same premises and may also cover products or materials that may carry rabies.
(2) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that dies or is euthanatized shall be disposed of by incineration or by burial under the act of May 18, 1945 (P. L. 796, No. 317), known as the Dead Animal Rendering or Disposal Plant Law (3 P. S. § § 397.1—397.23).
(3) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies may not be released from quarantine until suspicion of rabies is dispelled or until the animal has died or has been euthanatized and disposed of under paragraph (2).
(4) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that is known to have bitten or otherwise exposed a human shall be immediately, humanely euthanatized and subjected to an official rabies test.
(5) A domestic animal suspected of having rabies that is known to have bitten or otherwise exposed a domestic animal and that dies within 10 days after the biting or exposure incident, or both, shall immediately be subjected to an official rabies test.
(b) A domestic animal exposed to rabies or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies shall be quarantined and confined to the owner’s premises.
(1) If the exposed animal has been vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to exposure and the duration of immunity has not expired, the exposed animal may, in the absence of any signs of rabies, be released from quarantine 90 days after exposure.
(2) If the exposed animal has not been vaccinated or if the duration of immunity has expired, the exposed animal shall be placed under quarantine for 6 months.
(3) No tissues or secretions from an exposed food animal exhibiting signs of rabies may be sold, transported or used for human or animal consumption.
(4) Food animals exposed, but which are not exhibiting signs of rabies, may be moved to a licensed rendering plant or slaughtered for animal consumption if processed by cooking. Consumption of the animals after proper processing does not constitute a rabies exposure.
§ 16.23. Domestic animal bites.
Dogs, cats and other domestic pet animals that are not suspected of having rabies but which have bitten humans shall be kept confined and isolated so that there is no further exposure of humans or animals during an observation period of 10 days. A dog shall be treated in accordance with section 502 of the Dog Law (3 P. S. § 459-502).
§ 16.24. Wild animal bites.
Wild animals suspected of having rabies, including, but not limited to, bats, foxes, skunks, raccoons and rodents, whether free-living or confined by humans, which have bitten, scratched or exposed humans or domestic animals to saliva shall be humanely euthanatized and subjected to an official rabies test.
§ 16.25. General quarantine order.
If the incidence of rabies in domestic or wild animals in a given area of this Commonwealth causes a serious risk of exposing humans or domestic animals to rabies in that area, the Department may impose, by posting and advertising in at least one newspaper, a general quarantine order restricting the movement of animals into, within or from that infected area to prevent rabies from being carried within or out of the infected area.
(1) If a general quarantine order has been imposed, no animals may be allowed to move from the owner’s premises unless under the direct control of the owner.
(2) A domestic animal found running at large in violation of the general quarantine order may be captured, confined or humanely euthanatized by a police officer or an officer or agent of the Department without liability.
(3) A dog found running at large in violation of the general quarantine order shall be treated in accordance with sections 302 and 303 of the Dog Law (3 P. S. § § 459-302 and 459-303).
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