The Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988

Cases of infectious disease to be specially reported

6.—(1) In this regulation “a disease subject to the International Health Regulations” means cholera, including cholera due to the eltor vibrio, plague, smallpox, including variola minor (alastrim), and yellow fever.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (3), a proper officer shall, if his district or port health district is in England immediately inform the Chief Medical Officer for England, or, if his district or port health district is in Wales immediately inform the Chief Medical Officer for Wales of—

(a) any case or suspected case of a disease subject to the International Health Regulations and

(b) any serious outbreak of any disease (including food poisoning)

which to his knowledge has occurred in his district or port health district, and he shall similarly inform the appropriate medical officer of the appropriate District Health Authority.

(3) A proper officer who receives a certificate in respect of any case of—

(a) a disease subject to the International Health Regulations,

(b) leprosy,

(c) malaria or rabies contracted in Great Britain, or

(d) a viral haemorrhagic fever

shall immediately send a copy to the Chief Medical Officer for England if the address of the patient in the certificate is in England or to the Chief Medical Officer for Wales if such address is in Wales.