The Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations 1979

PART IV OUTGOING AIRCRAFT

Examination, etc., of persons proposing to embark

27.  Where an aircraft is due to depart from an aerodrome for a destination outside the United Kingdom, the medical officer—

(a) may examine any person who proposes to embark thereon if he has reasonable grounds for believing him to be suffering from a disease subject to the International Health Regulations, and, if after examination the medical officer is of the opinion that he shows symptoms of such a disease, shall prohibit his embarkation and the time and place of this examination shall be arranged so as to take into account any other formalities and to avoid delay;

(b) shall prohibit any suspect from embarking thereon:

Provided that in the case of smallpox a person shall not be prohibited from, embarking if he satisfies the medical officer that he is sufficiently protected by vaccination or by a previous attack of smallpox;

(c) shall notify by the most expeditious means the commander and the health authority for the place to which the person is proceeding of any person embarking or proposing to continue his voyage thereon who, in the opinion of the medical officer, should be placed under surveillance;

(d) notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of this regulation a person on an international voyage who on arrival was placed under surveillance may be allowed to continue his voyage. The medical officer shall notify by the most expeditious means the health authority for the place to which the person is proceeding that such a person should in the opinion of the medical officer, be placed under surveillance.

28.  Where the Secretary of State has, by notice published in the London Gazette, declared any place to be infected with a disease subject to the International Health Regulations or with any other disease which in his opinion constitutes a menace to other countries by reason of its spread or potential spread, then, until the notice is revoked by a subsequent notice published in the London Gazette, every medical officer shall comply with any requirement which may be made by the Secretary of State for preventing the spread of the disease, and in particular (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision) the following provisions of this regulation shall operate in relation to any aircraft departing from any aerodrome specified by the Secretary of State for a destination outside the United Kingdom—

(a) an authorised officer, if so required by the Secretary of State, shall require a valid vaccination certificate from departing travellers. In the absence of such a certificate the medical officer may offer vaccination to any such traveller and apply the provisions of regulation 27(c);

(b) the medical officer may, and within three hours after receiving a request from the commander so to do shall, medically examine any person who proposes to embark on or is on board the aircraft;

(c) the authorised officer may require any part of the aircraft which in his opinion may be infected to be cleansed and disinfected to his satisfaction;

(d) an authorised officer shall inspect any clothing, bedding or other article which is on, or is intended to be taken by any person on the aircraft and which, in the opinion of the officer, may have been exposed to infection and may require the disinfection or destruction of any such clothing, bedding or article, and the commander shall disclose to the authorised officer any relevant circumstances;

(e) no person shall take or cause to be taken on board the aircraft any article which, in the opinion of an authorised officer, is capable of carrying infection, unless that officer is satisfied that it has been efficiently disinfected and, where necessary, disinsected;

(f) if the aerodrome is situated in an area which is included in the said notice in the London Gazette and is therein declared to be infected with plague, and if there is reason to believe that there are rodents on the aircraft, the authorised officer may, and if so required by the Secretary of State shall, take steps to secure the deratting of the aircraft.