Chapter 36

In short

This law, called the Prevention of Disease Ordinance, aims to amend and consolidate existing laws to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious, contagious, and epidemic diseases in both humans and animals. It was enacted on August 10, 1908.

What it regulates

• The prevention of infectious, contagious, and epidemic diseases in humans.
• The prevention of diseases among animals, including isolation, infected areas, and movement controls.
• Offences and legal proceedings related to the failure to comply with disease prevention measures.
• The detention of ships in relation to disease prevention.

Who it concerns

• Heads of families, relatives, and occupiers of houses where an inmate is suffering from a disease.
• Masters of ships, keepers of hotels, lodging-houses, colleges, or schools where a person is suffering from a disease.
• Medical practitioners attending patients with certain diseases.
• Owners and handlers of animals.

Key points

• For diseases dangerous to mankind, "disease" includes rabies but not venereal diseases.
• For diseases among animals, "disease" includes infectious or contagious diseases, and the presence of parasitic animals or plants dangerous to humans or animals.
• Regulations made by the competent Minister must be published in the Government Gazette and laid before the House of Representatives.
• Certain individuals must notify the district medical officer or Superintendent when they become aware of a person suffering from a specified disease (Articles 5 and 6).
• Medical practitioners must send a certificate to the Superintendent for certain diseases, stating the patient's name, age, address, and the disease (Article 7).
• The Minister responsible for public health can prescribe the form of the medical certificate and order payment of a fee (between 0.29 and 0.58 cents for private practice, and between 0.12 and 0.23 cents for public practice) for each certificate.
• The Superintendent or any medical officer of health can enter houses or other places, after one hour's notice, to inspect and examine persons suspected of having a disease.