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27
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
Legislation
The Public Health (Infective Jaundice) Regulations made this disease notifiable from
15th June, 1968. This decision was taken for a number of reasons but mainly as it was
believed that infectious hepatitis was increasing in incidence and because of lack of
information with regard to its occurrence.
From 1st October, 1968 the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations made
under Section 56 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, came into operation,
consolidating with amendments all previous Regulations relating to the notification and
prevention of infectious disease, except the Tuberculosis Regulations of 1925. The
principle changes were to make acute primary pneumonia, acute influenzal pneumonia,
acute rheumatism and puerperal pyrexia no longer notifiable, whilst tetanus, yellow fever
and leptospirosis became notifiable for the first time. Additionally the powers of a
Medical Officer of Health to vaccinate contacts of persons suffering from smallpox have
been extended to other diseases and the power of a local authority to require a person
to stop work in order to prevent spread of infection are extended to permit action in cases
of food poisoning. The Medical Officer of Health has been authorised to serve notices
required by these Regulations with regard to measures to be taken by a local authority
if and when cases of typhus, food poisoning, relapsing fever, typhoid and paratyphoid
fevers occur. The Regulations also cover measures to be taken against infected rats
in preventing the spread of disease and in this respect Local Authorities are empowered
to take measures for destroying all rats in the district and for preventing rats from
gaining access to buildings.
In addition to food poisoning, the infectious diseases now to be notified to the
Medical Officer of Health from 1st October, 1968 are —
Acute encephalitis
Acute meningitis
Acute poliomyelitis
Anthrax
Cholera
Diphtheria
Dysentery (amoebic or bacillary)
Infective jaundice
Leprosy
Leptospirosis
Malaria