1. (a) Quarantines/hold orders.

   1. (1) All flocks suspicious of scrapie, including source flocks, will be placed under hold order and investigated pending final determination. Scrapie suspect animals and animals suspected of other neurological and chronic debilitating (prolonged wasting) illnesses are required to be made available to ensure proper tissue samples are collected and submitted to an official laboratory for diagnostic purposes. The final determination of the presence or absence of scrapie in a flock shall be made by the investigating Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) or USDA veterinarian. Animals determined to be infected with scrapie, and all scrapie suspects in infected flocks, must be destroyed and properly disposed of as described in subsection (b) of this section.
   2. (2) All flocks which have been infected within the previous 5 years and not complying with the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program as described in paragraph (5)(B) of this subsection will be quarantined.

   3. (3) Flocks determined to be infected will be quarantined and the following listed in subparagraphs (A)-(B) of this paragraph will be required.

      1. (A) A flock plan to eradicate the disease from the flock will be developed. The flock plan will be developed by a state/federal regulatory veterinarian in consultation with the flock owner or caretaker and his veterinarian (if requested by the owner). The plan shall include provisions for release of quarantine as specified in paragraph (5) of this subsection. If a plan cannot be agreed upon, then the plan developed by the commission shall be final and the owner or caretaker will be provided a copy.
      2. (B) An epidemiological investigation will be performed following the diagnosis of infection. Traces to all animals or flocks, that could have been exposed, will be investigated for clinical signs. Animals and flocks being traced will be placed under hold order until a determination of the absence of scrapie can be made by either the observation of no clinical signs or by a preclinical test approved by USDA, APHIS. An agreement (or enrollment in the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program Complete or Selective Monitored Category) will be made to provide for monitoring of the flock for evidence of scrapie for two years. Animals displaying clinical signs must be destroyed to ensure proper tissue samples are collected and submitted to an official laboratory for diagnostic purposes.

   4. (4) Movement restrictions. Animals showing clinical signs of scrapie shall not be removed from the premise until a diagnosis can be made. Animals not showing clinical signs of scrapie on a quarantined or hold order premise may be moved under the following conditions listed in subparagraphs (A)-(B) of this paragraph:

      1. (A) the animals are permitted on a VS 1-27 form and individually identified, or moved in an officially sealed conveyance and;
      2. (B) the animals are consigned directly to an approved slaughter facility for immediate slaughter.

   5. (5) Quarantines will be released in the following instances listed in subparagraphs (A)-(B) of this paragraph:

      1. (A) once the flock has completed the requirements of an individual flock plan and an epidemiological investigation is performed;

      2. (B) unless modified or waived by a designated scrapie epidemiologist, the flock plan will require, but not be limited to, the following listed in clauses (i)-(ii) of this subparagraph:

         1. (i) removal of all high risk animals from the flock in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection;
         2. (ii) the flock must be enrolled and participating in the USDA Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program as outlined in the flock plan.

2. (b) Destruction of diseased animals will be accomplished by complete burning or burial of the carcasses on the premise where disclosed. Immediate destruction will be required in the following cases listed in paragraphs (1)-(2) of this subsection:

   1. (1) scrapie-positive animals;
   2. (2) suspect animals in infected flocks unless waived by a designated scrapie epidemiologist.

Source Note:The provisions of this §60.2 adopted to be effective April 4, 1999, 24 TexReg 2300.