Infectious Diseases - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition infectious-diseases

Definition :

Infectious diseases. It is an indictable offence to expose in a public frequented highway a person suffering from an infectious disorder, R. v. Vantandillo, (1815) 4 M. & S. 73. The (English) Public Health Act, 1936 (26 Geo. 5, and 1 Edw. 8, c. 49), ss. 143 to 180, repealing (from October, 1937) ss. 120-143 of the (English) Public Health Act, 1875, contains various provisions calculated to prevent the spread of dangerous infectious diseases.

Notification.--The (English) Public health Act, 1936, also repeals (from October, 1937) the (English) Infectious Diseases Notification Act, 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 72), and enjoins the notification to the Medical Officer of Health of the district of certain specific diseases therein named, and also of other diseases added to the list by the local authority, s. 343 enacting that 'notifiable disease.'--

Means any of the following diseases, namely, small-pox, cholera, diphtheria, membranous croup, erysipelas, the disease known as scarlatina or scarlet fever, and the fevers known by any of the following names, typhus, typhoid, enteric, relaps-ing and includes as respects any particular district any infectious disease to which Part V, or corresponding enactment this Act has been applied by the local authority of the district in manner provided by that part or that enactment.

S. 147 of the Act provides for the extension of the application of the Act, and for public notice being given of it.

Prevention.--By s. 143 (ibid.) general powers are conferred on the Minister of Health for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, including danger to public health from vessels, after consultation with the Board of Trade, and aircraft, after consultation with the Home Secre-tary. These powers are to be enforced by County Councils, local and port health authorities, Customs and Excise, and the Coastguard, with the consent of the respective departments. By order in Council, the regulations (including quarantine) may extend to Northern Ireland, if outside the powers of Parliament there, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. By s. 151, principals of schools may be required to send to the Medical Officer of Health for the district complete lists of names and addresses of day scholars who may be suffering from a notifiable disease. By s. 152 infected Articles may not be sent to a laundry or public washhouse before disinfection or without proper notice. Home work, such as tailoring or other specified work in any premises in which a notifiable disease occurs may be forbidden by the local authority (s. 154). Bys. 155 dealers in rags and old clothes are absolutely prohibited from selling or delivering any article of food or drink to any person, or any article whatsoever to children under fourteen. Under s. 156 infected matter is not to be thrown into dustbins. Ss. 157 and 158 provide against the letting of premises or rooms, and for notice to the owner after recent cases of notifiable disease. Other provisions relate to the disinfection and removal to hospitals of patients suffering from such disease, and to removal, burial, or cremation of bodies after death. [Public Health Act, 1936 (English), ss. 343, 143, 147-158]