When a county, city, township or district is threatened with a contagious or infectious disease among animals, or poultry, to such an extent as to seem to require more general precautions, the department of agriculture may for such time as it shall deem necessary and proper, quarantine such county, city, township or district and prohibit the bringing of any animal or poultry, subject to such contagious or infectious disease, into such county, city, township or district, or the removal of any such animal, or poultry, out of or from one place to another within the county, city, township or district without inspection and a written permit signed by the department or its duly constituted agent or representative.