NOTIFIABLE DISEASE

Subject : Disaster Management

Context: Centre asks states and UTs to make black fungus notifiable disease under Epidemic Diseases Act.

Concept:

A notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities.
The collation of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease, and provides early warning of possible outbreaks.
The World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations, 1969 require disease reporting to the WHO in order to help with its global surveillance and advisory role.

Significance of Notifying Disease:

Making a disease legally notifiable by doctors and health professionals allows for intervention to control the spread of highly infectious diseases.
Registered medical practitioners need to notify such diseases in a proper form within three days, or notify verbally via phone within 24 hours depending on the urgency of the situation.
This means every government hospital, private hospital, laboratories, and clinics will have to report cases of the disease to the government.
The process helps the government keep track and formulate a plan for elimination and control.
In less infectious conditions, it improves information about the burden and distribution of disease.

Other Notified Diseases:

The Centre has notified several diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, encephalitis, leprosy, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), plague, tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis, measles, yellow fever, malaria dengue, etc.

Epidemic Diseases Act (EDA)

The Epidemic Diseases Act (EDA) was enacted by the colonial government in India to curb the spread of the bubonic plague in erstwhile Bombay.

Provisions of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act:

The Act, which consists of four sections, aims to provide “for the better prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Diseases.”
Section 2 empowers state governments/UTs to take special measures and formulate regulations for containing the outbreak.
The state may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.
It also provides penalties for disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act.
It also gives legal protection to the implementing officers acting under the Act.