(a) Report to the Governor. Should a case of rabies occur in Guam, the Director shall make or cause to be made, a thorough investigation as to the prevalence of the disease, the probable number of persons and animals exposed, the areas found to be involved and the means by which the disease was introduced and shall report the findings of such investigation, together with appropriate recommendations, to the Governor.

(1) If rabies exists or is believed to exist in Guam, the Governor may, in his discretion, declare by executive order a state of public health emergency due to rabies.

(2) During the existence of the state of emergency due to rabies, the Director may, with the approval of the Governor, promulgate such regulations as he may deem necessary to control the public health hazard due to rabies.

(b) Public health emergency status period. The public health emergency status shall terminate one (1) year from the date of the declaration thereof unless a public health emergency due to rabies is again declared in the manner provided in this section. If, however, the Governor at any time finds and declares, upon recommendation of the Director, that a public health emergency due to rabies has ceased to exist, its status as such shall terminate upon the date of such declaration.

(c) Suspension of importation of all animals. Whenever, in the opinion of the Governor, it shall be necessary for the
protection of the population of Guam against infectious or contagious disease, he may, by executive order, suspend the importation of animals for a limited period of time and may change, revoke, or renew such executive order as the public good may require. During the time of such suspension, the importation of any such animals shall be unlawful.

SOURCE: Added by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993).

2017 NOTE: Subitem designations added pursuant to authority granted by 1 Guam Code Ann. § 1606.