Chapter III INFECTED AREAS

If the Veterinary Officer, upon receipt of a report from a

Veterinarian or otherwise, is satisfied that, in any place or premises falling within his jurisdiction, an animal has been infected with any scheduled disease, or that an animal, which he has reason to believe has been so infected, is kept, may, by notification and publication in at least one local newspaper in the vernacular language and by declaration in loud voice and by beating drums, declare such area as he may deem fit (including the place or premises aforesaid) to be an infected area.

1. (1) Where an area has been declared as an infected area under section 20, all provisions of this Act which are applicable in relation to a controlled area shall mutatis mutandis apply thereto as if for the words “controlled area”, the words “infected area” have been substituted.
2. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the following further provisions shall apply in relation to an infected area, namely:—
   • (a) in respect of every animal in that area which is infected or reasonably believed to be infected, with any scheduled disease, the owner or other person in charge of the animal, shall forthwith get it treated by a Veterinarian;
   • (b) all articles, which are likely to have come into contact with any animal referred to in clause (a), shall be treated or disposed off in such a manner as the Veterinarian may direct;
   • (c) every Veterinarian shall, for the purpose of inspection, have the power to enter any place or premises where any animal is kept or is likely to be kept;
   • (d) the owner or any other person in charge of the animal referred to in clause (a) shall keep the animal in isolation forthwith, and also take such other measures as may be necessary for the prevention, treatment and control of the disease as the Veterinarian may direct.

If the Veterinary Officer, after such enquiry as he may deem fit, is satisfied that there is no longer the threat or danger of any animal being infected with the scheduled disease in any infected area, by notification and publication in a local newspaper in vernacular language, declare that the area is no longer an infected area as aforesaid, whereupon all the restrictions referred to in section 21 shall cease to apply.