A. The public health authority shall ascertain the existence of cases of an illness or health condition that may be potential causes of a catastrophic health emergency; investigate all such cases for sources of infection or contamination and to ensure that they are subject to proper control measures; and define the distribution of the illness or health condition. To fulfill these duties, the public health authority shall identify exposed individuals as follows:
1. Acting on information developed in accordance with Section 6 of this act, or other reliable information, the public health authority shall identify all individuals thought to have been exposed to an illness or health condition that may be a potential cause of a catastrophic health emergency; and
2. The public health authority shall counsel and interview such individuals where needed 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.
B. The public health authority, for examination purposes, shall close, evacuate, or decontaminate any facility or decontaminate or destroy any material when the authority reasonably suspects that such facility or material may endanger the public health.
C. The public health authority may enforce the provisions of this section in accordance with existing enforcement rules. An order of the public health authority given to effectuate the purposes of this section shall be enforceable immediately by the public safety authority.
Added by Laws 2003, c. 473, § 7.