Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 · Updated to 1 Jul 2020 · Part IV · Control of the Spread of Infectious Disease
11. Declaration of an infected local area
Official textFrom Laws of Malaysia Online, unchanged
If the Minister is satisfied that there is an outbreak of an infectious disease in any area in Malaysia, or that any area is threatened with an epidemic of any infectious disease, he may, by order in the
infectious disease
“infectious disease” means any disease specified in the First Schedule;
Gazette, declare such area to be an infected local area.
The Minister may, by regulations made under this Act, prescribe the measures to be taken to control or prevent the spread of any infectious disease within or from an infected local area.
During the continuance in force of an order made under subsection (1), it shall be lawful for any authorized officer to direct any person or class or category of persons living in an infected local area or in any part thereof to subject himself or themselves—
authorized officer
“authorized officer” means any Medical Officer of Health, any health inspector, or any officer appointed by the Minister under section 3;
to treatment or immunization;
to isolation, observation or surveillance, the period of which being specified according to circumstances; or
to any other measures as the authorized officer considers necessary to control the disease.
It shall be lawful for an authorized officer to use such force, with or without assistance, as may be necessary and to employ such methods as may be sufficient to ensure compliance with any direction issued under subsection (3).
Any person who refuses to comply with any direction issued under subsection (3) commits an offence.
Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 17
Terms defined in s 2
authorized officer
Defined · s 2“authorized officer” means any Medical Officer of Health, any health inspector, or any officer appointed by the Minister under section 3;
epidemic
Defined · s 2“epidemic” means an extension of a disease by a multiplication of cases in an area;
immunization
Defined · s 2“immunization” means the introduction of specific antigens or antibodies into the human body with the object of conferring immunity against the disease in question, and includes vaccination;
infectious disease
Defined · s 2“infectious disease” means any disease specified in the First Schedule;
observation
Defined · s 2“observation” means the segregation of any contact or person suspected of suffering from any infectious disease for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not he is suffering from any infectious disease, and includes the treatment of that person;
surveillance
Defined · s 2“surveillance” means the subjection of any person, who is not isolated, to periodical examination or enquiry for the purpose of ascertaining his state of health and to conditions imposed by an authorized officer for such purpose;
treatment
Defined · s 2“treatment” includes all such acts and procedures as may be necessary for the purpose of determining whether a person is infected with an infectious disease;