Chapter VII Chapter VII

For the purposes of this part, ‘infectious diseases’ means (a) acute influenzal pneumonia, (b) anthrax, (c) cerebrespinal fever, (d) chickenpox, (e) cholera, (f) diphtheria, (g) entric fever, (h) leprosy, (i) plague, (j) rabies, (k) relapsing fever, (l) smallpox, (m) pulmonary tuberculosis, (n) syphilis, (o) gonorrhoea, (p) acquired imuno deficiency syndrome and any other disease which the Government may from time to time, by notification, declare to be an infectious disease either generally throughout the Union territory or in such part or parts thereof as may be specified in the notification.

(1) In the event of the prevalence or threatened outbreak of any infectious disease in any local area, or of any unusual mortality therein, the local authority concerned shall provide such additional staff medicines, appliances, equipments and other things as may, in the opinion of the Health Officer, be necessary for the treatment of such infectious diseases and preventing it from spreading or for investigating the cause of such mortality and preventing it, as the case may be: Provided that, if the local authority does not agree with the opinion of the Health Officer, the matter shall be referred to the Director whose decision shall be final. (2) In the event aforesaid, if the Health Officer considers that immediate action is necessary in the interest of public health, he may, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), appoint such staff and obtain such medicines, appliances, equipments and other things as may be necessary; and the expenses incurred in respect thereof shall be met from the funds of the local authority. (3) Every appointment made under sub-section (2) shall be reported forthwith to the local authority concerned.

(1) (a) The local authority may, and if so required by the Government shall provide or cause to be provided hospitals, wards or other places for the reception and treatment of persons suffering from infectious diseases. (b) For the purpose of the reception and treatment of such persons a local authority may— (i) itself build such hospitals, wards or places of reception, or (ii) contract for the use of any existing hospital or part of such hospital or place of reception, or (iii) enter into an agreement with any person having the management of any such hospital, for the reception and treatment therein of persons suffering from infectious diseases. (c) For the purpose aforesaid, two or more local authorities may in combination provide a common hospital or place of reception. (2) A local authority shall not be deemed to have discharged its obligation under sub-section (1) unless the hospitals, wards and places of reception in question are maintained in accordance with such general or special orders as may from time to time be issued by the Director.

The Director, shall,— (a) provide and maintain suitable conveyances, with sufficient attendants and other requisites, for free carriage of persons suffering from any infectious diseases; and (b) provide proper places and apparatus and establishment, for the disinfection of conveyances, clothing, bedding or other articles which have been exposed to infection, and when any conveyances, clothing, bedding or articles are brought to any such place for disinfection may cause them, at its discretion, to be disinfected, either free of charge, or on payment of such fee as it may fix.

Every registered medical practitioner of any system of medicine including practitioner of dental surgery who in the course of his practice becomes cognizant or suspects the existence of any case of the diseases mentioned in section 47 in any private or public dwelling, hospitals (including nursing homes), shall report and furnish information of the same with the least practicable delay— (a) in a local area, to the local authority concerned; and (b) in any other area, to the Health Officer or a health or Sanitary Inspector: Provided that in the case of acquired imuno deficiency syndrome, the information shall necessarily be given to the Health Officer of the respective jurisdiction.

(1) If it appears to the Health Officer that the water in any tank, well or other place, if used for drinking or any other domestic purpose, is liable to endanger or cause the spread of any infectious disease, he may, by public notice, prohibit the removal for use of the said water generally or for any specified domestic purpose and shall direct the local authority to provide alternate source of water within a reasonable distance. (2) No person shall remove or use any water in respect of which any such notice, has been issued in contravention of the terms thereof.

(1) If it appears to the Health Officer that any person is suffering from an infectious disease, and that such person — (i) is without proper lodging or accommodation, or (ii) is without medical supervision directed to the prevention of the spread of the disease, or (iii) is lodging in a place occupied by more than one family; or (iv) is in a place where his presence is a danger to the people in the neighborhood, and (v) should be removed to hospital or other place at which patients suffering from such disease are received for treatment, the Health Officer may remove such person or cause him to be removed to such hospital or place; (vi) no person including a foreigner shall refuse collection of blood for investigation of acquired imuno deficiency syndrome or any other communicable/infectious diseases if the Health Officer has reasonable ground to suspect that such person is suffering from acquired imuno deficiency syndrome or other infectious disease as defined under the Act; (vii) (viii) all such persons admitted in prescribed wards/hospitals shall be provided with materials, equipment, etc. which shall not be used for any other purpose; (ix) the parenteral medication of the patients suffering from acquired imuno deficiency syndrome shall be given through disposable sets/syringes; (x) the linen, mattresses, etc. used for the deceased patients who were suffering from acquired imuno deficiency syndrome shall be immediately destroyed by burning; (xi) all the staff working for the management of the patient suffering from acquired imuno deficiency syndrome shall be effectively protected with long rubber gloves, sterilized linen and mask; (xii) persons handling the dead bodies of patients who were suffering from acquired imuno deficiency syndrome shall be instructed to ensure that they do not come into contact with any secretions such as saliva; etc.; (xiii) the dead body of a patient who was suffering from acquired imuno deficiency syndrome shall be enclosed in a polythene bag and tied with knots at both the ends and sealed before further action for its cremation/burial or despatch abroad as the case may be; (xiv) no transplant operation of any kind shall be performed unless the donor as well as the receptor is confirmed to be free from acquired imuno deficiency syndrome through serological investigation; (xv) all the Blood Banks shall send the blood specimen for ELIZA test to the Surveillance Centre of the Goa Medical College and only after obtaining the negative result, it shall be used for the paitents. (2) If any woman who, according to custom, does not appear in public is removed to any such hospital or place — (i) the removal shall be effected in such a way as to preserve her privacy; and (ii) special accommodation in accordance with the customs aforesaid shall be provided for her in such hospital or place. (3) No person shall leave or be taken away from, any hospital or other place referred to in sub-section (1) without the permission of the Medical Officer in-charge or of the Health Officer. (4) Whoever (a) obstructs the removal of any person to any hospital or other place under sub-section (1), or (b) leaves or takes away any person from any such hospital or place in contravention of sub-section (3), shall be liable to a penalty of Rs. 25,000.

(1) No person who knows that he is suffering from an infectious disease specified in this Chapter shall expose other persons to the risk of infection by his presence or conduct in — (a) any market, college, playground, or such other place, or (b) theatre or other place of entertainment or assembly, or (c) any hotel, hostel, boarding house, choultry, rest-house, club or massage parlour/spa, or (d) any factory or shop. Explanation:— A person shall be deemed to know that he is suffering from an infectious disease within the meaning of this sub-section if he has been informed by the Health Officer or any other officer of the Public Health Department of the Government or of a local authority, not below the rank of Health or Sanitary Inspector or a Medical Practitioner that he is so suffering. (2) No person who has the care of a person whom he knows to be suffering from an infectious disease shall cause or permit that person to expose others to the risk of infection by his presence or conduct in any place referred to in sub-section (1).

No person shall, while suffering from, or in circumstances in which he is likely to spread, any infectious disease—

If, in any local area, any infectious disease transmissible to man breaks out or is, in the opinion of the Health Officer, likely to break out amongst cattle or other animals it shall be the duty of the Health Officer to recommend to the local authority the adoption of such measures, as he may deem necessary for suppressing or mitigating the disease or for preventing the outbreak or threatened outbreak thereof; and the local authority shall consider such recommendations and take such action thereon as to it may deem suitable.