Epitome of the Infectious Diseases {Notification) Act, 1889, 52 and 53 Vict. c. 72 - Specimen of Municipal Regulations.

I. Notification Of Infectious Disease

After the said 16th day of December, 1889, where an inmate of any building used for human habitation within the district of the said Local Authority is suffering from any of the Infectious Diseases hereinafter mentioned, then (unless such building is a hospital in which persons suffering from an Infectious Disease are received) the following provisions shall have effect:-

1. (1) The head of the family to which such inmate (hereinafter called the patient) belongs, and in his default

(2) The nearest relatives of the patient present in the building, or being in attendance on the patient, and in default of such relatives

(3) Every person in charge of, or in attendance on the patient, of any such person

(4) The occupier of the building, shall, as soon as he becomes aware that the patient is suffering from such Infectious Disease, send notice thereof to the Medical Officer of Health.

2. Every Medical Practitioner attending on, or called in to visit the patient, shall forthwith, on becoming aware that the patient is suffering from such Infections Disease, send to the Medical Officer a certificate stating the name of the patient, the situation of the building, and the Infectious Disease from which the patient is suffering. Forms of Certificate for use by Medical Practitioners will be supplied gratuitously on application to the Medical Officer of Health.

For each such Certificate duly sent by a Medical Practitioner he will be entitled to receive from the Local Authority a fee of 2/6 if the case occurs in his private practice, and 1/- if it occurs in his practice as Medical Officer of any public body or institution.

Notices And Certificates

These may be in writing or in print, or partly in writing and partly in print. They may be sent by being delivered to the Medical Officer of Health, or being left at his office, or may be sent by post addressed to him at his office. In cases of urgency the Medical Officer of Health may be communicated with by Telephone.

Penalties

Every person required to give a Notice or Certificate as above-mentioned, who fails to give the same, is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 40/-.

Definition Of "Infectious Disease."

"Infectious Diseases" includes the following diseases : Smallpox; Cholera; Diphtheria; Membranous; Croup; Erysipelas; the disease known as Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever; the fevers known by any of the following names: Typhus, Typhoid, Enteric, Relapsing, Continued, or Puerperal.

Medical Practitioners are particularly requested to forward Notifications immediately on becoming aware that the patient is suffering from an Infectious Disease to which this Act applies.

II. A Specimen Of Municipal Regulations

Your attention is particularly directed to the following provisions of the Public Health Act, of the Infectious

Disease (Prevention) Act, and of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, so far as they relate to the prevention of the spread of Infectious Diseases-

Any person who

(1) While suffering from any dangerous infectious disorder wilfully exposes himself without proper precautions against spreading the said disorder in any street, public place, or vehicle, or enters any public conveyance without previously notifying to the owner, conductor or driver thereof that he is so suffering; or

(2) Being in charge of any person so suffering, so exposes such sufferer; or

(3) Gives, lends, sells, or transmits, or exposes without previous disinfection, any bedding, clothing, rags, or other things which have been exposed to infection, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Five Pounds.

Every person who shall cease to occupy any house, room, or part of house in which any person has, within six weeks previously, been suffering from any infectious disease, without having such house, room, or part of a house, and all articles therein liable to retain infection, disinfected to the satisfaction of a registered medical practitioner, as testified by a certificate signed by him, or without first giving to the owner of such house, room, or part of a house, notice of the previous existence of such disease; and every person ceasing to occupy any house, room, or part of a house, and who, on being questioned by the owner thereof, or by any person negotiating for the hire of such house, room, or part of a house, as to the fact of there having within six weeks previously been therein any person suffering from any infectious disease, knowingly makes a false answer to such question, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds.

Any Local Authority, or the Medical Officer of any Local Authority, generally empowered by the Authority in that behalf, may, by notice in writing, require the owner of any bedding, clothing, or other articles which have been exposed to the infection of any infectious disease, to cause the same to be delivered over to an Officer of the Local Authority for removal for the purpose of disinfection, and any person who fails to comply with such requirement, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Ten Pounds.

INFECTED DWELLINGS.-If any occupier of a factory or workshop, or laundry, or any place from which any work is given out, or any contractor employed by any such occupier, causes or allows wearing apparel to be made, cleaned, or repaired in any dwelling-house or building occupied therewith, whilst any inmate of the dwelling-house is suffering from any infectious disease, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Ten Pounds.