§ 508. Tracking of potential or existing public health emergencies.
425 words·~2 min read·
/de/title-16/chapter-5-contagious-diseases-generally/subchapter-i-general-guidelines/508·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Division of Public Health shall ascertain the existence of cases of an illness or health condition which may be potential causes of a public health emergency; shall investigate all such cases for sources of infection and shall ensure that they are subject to proper control measures; and shall define the distribution of the illness or health condition. To fulfill these duties, the Division of Public Health shall perform the following:
(1)Acting on information developed in accordance with § 130 of this title or other reliable information, the Division shall identify all individuals thought to have been exposed to an illness or health condition which may be a potential cause of a public health emergency.
(2)The Division shall counsel and interview such individuals as appropriate to assist in the positive identification of exposed individuals and develop information relating to the source and spread of the illness or health condition. Such information includes the name and address (including city and county) of any person from whom the illness or health condition may have been contracted and to whom the illness or health condition may have spread.
(3)The Division may close, evacuate or decontaminate any facility or decontaminate or destroy any material when the Division reasonably believes that it is more likely than not that such facility or material may seriously endanger the public health. However, to the extent practicable and consistent with the protection of public health, prior to the destruction of any material pursuant to this paragraph, the Division shall institute appropriate civil proceedings against the material to be destroyed in accordance with the existing laws and rules of the Superior Court or any rules that may be developed by the Superior Court. Additionally, a person whose property is destroyed pursuant to this paragraph is entitled to seek compensation pursuant to the procedures and restrictions of § 3145 of Title 20.
(4)An order of the Division given to effectuate the purposes of this section shall be enforceable immediately.
(5)Whenever any agency of the State learns of a case of a reportable illness or health condition, an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event, it shall immediately notify the Division.
(6)Whenever the Division learns of a case of a reportable illness or health condition, an unusual cluster, or a suspicious event that it reasonably believes has the potential to be caused by bioterrorism, it must immediately notify the public safety authority and federal health and public safety authorities.
(7)Definitions from § 3132 of Title 20 shall apply to this section.