Prevention and Suppression of Infectious Diseases 22 Inspection of infected premises and examination of persons suspected to be suffering from infectious disease The medical officer of health of any urban or rural area or any medical practitioner duly authorized thereto by the local authority may at any reasonable time enter and inspect any premises in which he has reason to believe that any person suffering or who has recently suffered from any infectious disease is or has recently been present, or any inmate of which has recently been exposed to the infection of any infectious disease, and may medically examine any person in such premises for the purpose of ascertaining whether such person is suffering or has recently suffered from any such disease. 23 Provision of isolation hospitals, mortuaries disinfecting stations and ambulances by local authorities Any local authority may, and if required by the Minister after inquiry, at which the local authority shall have an opportunity of being heard, shall, provide and maintain either separately or jointly with another local authority or with a hospital authority or with the State— (a) suitable hospitals or places of isolation for the accommodation and treatment of persons suffering from infectious diseases; (b) mortuaries or places for the reception of dead bodies pending the carrying out of any post-mortem examination ordered by a lawful authority, or until removal for interment; (c) disinfecting and cleansing stations, plant and equipment for the cleansing of persons and the disinfection of bedding, clothing or other articles which have been exposed to, or are believed to be contaminated with, the infection of any infectious disease, or which are dirty or verminous; (d) vehicles for the conveyance of persons suffering from any infectious disease or for the removal of any infected bedding, clothing or other articles; (e) any other accommodation, equipment or articles required for dealing with any outbreak of infectious disease. 24 Removal to hospital of infected persons Where, in the opinion of the medical officer of health, any person certified by a medical practitioner to be suffering from an infectious disease is not accommodated or is not being treated or nursed in such manner as adequately to guard against the spread of the disease, such person may, on the order of the medical officer of health, be removed to a suitable hospital or place of isolation and there detained until such medical officer of health or any medical practitioner duly authorized thereto by the local authority or by the Minister is satisfied that he is free from infection or can be discharged without danger to the public health: Provided that the cost of the removal of such patient and of his maintenance at the hospital may be recovered by the local authority from the said patient or his estate or, in the case of a minor, from his parent or guardian, if it can be shown that the said patient or his estate or, in the case of a minor, his parent or guardian is in a position to defray such cost. 25 Infected persons sent for treatment from other districts In the case of any patient suffering from any infectious disease being sent into the district of any local autho rity for isolation and treatment in any hospital or place of isolation maintained by such local authority from any other district, whether urban or rural, the first-mentioned local authority may recover from the local authority of the district sending the patient the cost of maintenance, nursing and treatment of the patient, and the cost of burial in the event of the death of the patient. 26 Measures to be adopted by local authority in case of infectious disease Where a person suffering from an infectious disease is within the district of a local authority, it shall be the duty of that authority to ensure that adequate measures are taken for preventing the spread of the disease, including, where necessary, provision for the accommodation, maintenance, nursing and medical treatment of the patient in a hospital or place of isolation until he has recovered or is no longer a danger to the public health or, in the event of the death of the patient, provision for the removal and burial of the body. 27 Power of local authority to order or carry out disinfection (1) When it appears from the certificate of the medical officer of health or a health officer or any medical practitioner that the cleansing or disinfection of any premises or any article is necessary for preventing the spread or eradicating the infection of any infectious disease, or otherwise for preventing danger to health, the local authority may give written notice to the owner or occupier of such premises or to the owner or person in charge of such article requiring him to cleanse or disinfect such premises or article in such manner and within such time as may be specified by and to the satisfaction of the local authority giving such notice. (2) If the person to whom such notice is given fails to comply therewith, the local authority shall cause such premises or articles to be cleansed or disinfected, and the costs thereby entailed shall be deemed to be a debt due to the local authority by the person in default.