Communicable Diseases Act, B.E. 2558 (2015) · disease investigation

Notification of the Ministry of Public Health Re: Criteria, Procedures, and Conditions for the Investigation of Dangerous Communicable Diseases or Epidemics, B.E. 2563 (2020)

Published in the Government Gazette 22 April B.E. 2563 (2020); in force from 23 April B.E. 2563 (2020)

Whereas it is expedient to prescribe criteria, procedures, and conditions for the investigation of dangerous communicable diseases or epidemics.

By virtue of section 5 paragraph one, section 7 (2) and section 34 paragraph three of the Communicable Diseases Act, B.E. 2558 (2015), the Minister of Public Health by and with the approval of the National Communicable Disease Committee, hereby issues the following Notification:

Clause 1. This Notification is called the “Notification of the Ministry of Public Health Re: Criteria, Procedures, and Conditions for the Investigation of Dangerous Communicable Diseases or Epidemics B.E. 2563 (2020)”

Clause 2. This Notification shall come into force on the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

Clause 3. In the event that a dangerous communicable disease occurs, or there is reasonable cause to suspect the occurrence of such disease within any area, the Communicable Disease Control Officer responsible for that area shall, in coordination with the Communicable Disease Control Operations Unit, immediately conduct a disease investigation within twelve (12) hours from the time a person is found to be infected or reasonably suspected of being infected with a dangerous communicable disease.

Clause 4. the Director-General of Department of Disease Control, and with the recommendation of the Technical Committee, issues a declaration specifying the name, principal symptoms, and the location of an epidemic within any area, the Communicable Disease Control Officer responsible for that area shall, in coordination with the Communicable Disease Control Operations Unit, immediately conduct a disease investigation within forty-eight (48) hours from the time a person is found to be infected or reasonably suspected of being infected with the disease so declared by the Director-General as an epidemic.

Clause 5. In conducting disease investigations pursuant to Clause 3 and Clause 4, the Communicable Disease Control Officer, in coordination with the Communicable Disease Control Operations Unit, shall continue the investigation without interruption until the situation is deemed to have subsided, there exists a justifiable cause to cease the investigation, or the Director-General of Department of Disease Control issues a revocation of the declaration under Clause 4.

Clause 6. In conducting disease investigations, the Communicable Disease Control Officer and the Communicable Disease Control Operations Unit shall carry out the investigation in accordance with the investigative guidelines annexed to this Notification.

Clause 7. Where, upon conducting a disease investigation, the Communicable Disease Control Officer finds that a dangerous communicable disease or an epidemic has occurred, the officer responsible for such investigation shall prepare a summary report of the investigation and notify the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee or the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee, as the case may be, and shall also submit such report to the Department of Disease Control within forty-eight (48) hours from the time a person is found to be infected or reasonably suspected of being infected with a dangerous communicable disease or an epidemic. In addition, a daily situation report shall be submitted to the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee or the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee and to the Department of Disease Control at least once per day, until the situation has subsided or unless there exists a justifiable cause otherwise.

Clause 8. The notification to the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee or the Bangkok Communicable Disease Committee, and the reporting to the Department of Disease Control under Clause 7, shall be carried out by any one of the following methods:

(1) By written correspondence

(2) By facsimile (fax)

(3) By electronic mail (email) or

(4) By any other method as additionally prescribed by the Department of Disease Control

Clause 9. The notifications and reports under Clause 8 shall be sent to the address or place of work, facsimile number, or electronic mail address of the Provincial Public Health Office, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Health Department, or the Department of Disease Control or by any other methods as additionally prescribed by the Department of Disease Control. The addresses, places of work, facsimile numbers, electronic mail addresses, or other methods as additionally prescribed by the Department of Disease Control for the Provincial Public Health Office, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Health Department, or the Department of Disease Control, including the formats for notification and reporting (if any), shall comply with the prescriptions announced by the Department of Disease Control.

Clause 10. The Director General of the Department of Disease Control shall be responsible for the execution of this Notification. In the event of any implementation issues, the Director General shall have the final decision, and such decision shall be deemed final.

Announced on the 20th Day of April, B.E. 2563 (2020)

Anutin Charnvirakul

Minister of Public Health

Unofficial English translation by the Division of Legal Affairs, Department of Disease Control (August 2025), book page 141; the Thai text prevails.