Communicable Diseases Act, B.E. 2558 (2015) · Notification of dangerous communicable diseases, diseases under surveillance or epidemics

Notification of the Ministry of Public Health Re: The Rules and Procedures in Reporting the Occurrence of a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic, B.E. 2560 (2017)

Published in the Government Gazette 21 December B.E. 2560 (2017); in force from 22 December B.E. 2560 (2017)

By virtue of section 5 paragraph one together with section 7 (1) and Section 31 paragraph two 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. In the event of an occurrence, or suspected occurrence, of a Dangerous Communicable Disease, and a person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease is found, the case shall be reported to a communicable disease control officer by the following persons:

(1) where the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease was found in a house, the owner of the house, the person in charge of the house or the physician who provided treatment to the infected person;

(2) where the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease was found in a healthcare facility, the person responsible for the healthcare facility;

(3) where the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of a Dangerous Communicable Disease was made during a medical or veterinary autopsy, the person who conducted the examination or the person responsible for the facility where the autopsy occurred; and

(4) where the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease was found in a business facility or any other place, the owner or person responsible for such a place.

Reports made under Sub-clauses (1) or (4) shall be made to a Communicable Disease Control Officer who is a Government Official in the Department of Disease Control of the Central Government Agency or a Regional Communicable Disease Control Officer within 3 hours of either the discovery of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease. Where the person concerned is unable to make the report within 3 hours due to a force majeure event or extenuating circumstances, the report shall be made to the Communicable Disease Officer as soon as it is possible to do so.

Reports made under Sub-clauses (2) or (3) shall be made to a Communicable Disease Control Officer who is a Government Official in the Department of Disease Control of the Central Government Agency within 3 hours of either the discovery of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease or the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of a Dangerous Communicable Disease during a medical or veterinary autopsy, as the case may be.

Where a report was made to a Regional Communicable Disease Control Officer, the Regional Communicable Disease Control Officer shall report the matter telephonically to a Communicable Disease Control Officer who is a Government Official in the Department of Disease Control of the Central Government Agency within one hour of having received the report. Where the Regional Communicable Control Officer is unable to make a telephonic report due to a force majeure event or extenuating circumstances, the Regional Communicable Disease Control Officer shall proceed in accordance with one of the methods set out in Clause 6 that is appropriate for the specific circumstance.

Clause 2. In the event of an occurrence, or suspected occurrence, of an Epidemic, and a person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with an Epidemic is found, the case shall be reported to a Communicable Disease Control Officer by the following persons:

(1) where the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected with an Epidemic was found in a house, the owner of the house, the person in charge of the house or a physician who provided treatment to the infected person;

(2) where the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with an Epidemic was found in a healthcare facility, the person responsible for the healthcare facility;

(3) where the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of an Epidemic was made during a medical or veterinary autopsy, the person who conducted the examination or the person responsible for the facility where the autopsy occurred; and

(4) where the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with an Epidemic was found in a business facility or any other place, the owner or the person responsible for such a place.

Reports made under Sub-clauses (1), (2), (3) or (4) shall be made to a Regional Communicable Disease Control Officer within 24 hours of either the discovery of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with an Epidemic or the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of an Epidemic during a medical or veterinary autopsy, as the case may be.

Where a report under Sub-clauses (1) or (4) cannot be made within 24 hours due to a force majeure event or extenuating circumstances, the report shall be made to the Communicable Disease Officer as soon as it is possible to do so.

Clause 3. In the event of an occurrence, or suspected occurrence, of a Communicable Disease under Surveillance, and a person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Communicable Disease under Surveillance is found, the case shall be reported to a Communicable Disease Control Officer of the Provincial Public Health Office, if the case was found in a provincial area, or a Communicable Disease Control Officer of the Bangkok Health Department, if the case was found in the Bangkok area, as the case may be, by the following persons:

(1) where the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Communicable Disease under Surveillance was found in a healthcare facility, the person responsible for a healthcare facility; or

(2) where the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of the Communicable Disease under Surveillance was made during a medical or veterinary autopsy, the person who conducted the examination or the person responsible for the facility where the autopsy occurred.

Reports made under Sub-clauses (1) and (2) shall be made to a Communicable Disease Control Officer in accordance with paragraph one within 7 days of either the discovery of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of a Communicable Disease under Surveillance during a medical or veterinary autopsy, as the case may be. Such reports shall be made in a form prescribed by the Director-General of the Department of Disease Control.

Clause 4 . Where a report is made under Clause 1(2) or (3) and the Communicable Disease Control Officer who discovered the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, or made the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of a Dangerous Communicable Disease, is the person responsible for the healthcare facility, the person who performed the autopsy or the person responsible for the facility where the autopsy occurred, said Officer shall report the discovery to a Communicable Disease Control Officer who is a Governmental Official of the Department of Disease Control of the Central Government Agency by telephone within 3 hours of discovering the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease or within 3 hours of the discovery or possible discovery of the disease-causing pathogen of the Communicable Disease under Surveillance during a medical or veterinary autopsy. Where the report cannot be made telephonically due to a force majeure event or extenuating circumstances, the Officer shall proceed in accordance with one of the methods set out in Clause 6 that is appropriate for the situation.

Clause 5. Where a report is made under Clause 2 (2) or (3) and the Communicable Disease Control Officer who discovered the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with an Epidemic, or made the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of an Epidemic, is the responsible person for the healthcare facility, the person who performed the autopsy or the person responsible for the facility where the autopsy occurred; Officer shall report the discovery to a Communicable Disease Control Officer who is a Government Official in the Department of Disease Control of the Central Government Agency within 24 hours of either the discovery of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with an Epidemic or the discovery, or possible discovery, of the disease-causing pathogen of an Epidemic during a medical or veterinary autopsy. Where the report cannot be made telephonically due to a force majeure event or extenuating circumstances, the Officer shall proceed in accordance with one of the methods set out in Clause 6 that is appropriate for the situation.

Clause 6 . Reports made under Clauses (1), (2) and (3) shall be made using one of the methods set out below:

(1) In person to a Communicable Disease Control Officer;

(2) By telephone;

(3) By facsimile;

(4) In writing;

(5) By email; or

(6) By any other means later specified by the Director-General of the Department of Disease Control in a Notification.

Clause 7. Upon receipt of a report made under Clause 1(1) or 1(4) and Clause 2(1) or 2(4), the Communicable Disease Control Officer shall record the report in a form prescribed by the Director-General of the Department of Disease Control.

Reports made under Clause 1(2) or 1(3), Clause 2(2) or 2(3), Clause 3, Clause 4, and Clause 5 shall be made to a Communicable Disease Control Officer in a form prescribed by the Director-General of the Department of Disease Control.

The Director-General of the Department of Disease Control shall prepare and distribute a guideline for the convenience of the public in implementing paragraphs one and two of this Clause.

Clause 8. Reports made to a Communicable Disease Control Officer pursuant to Clause 6 shall, at minimum, include the following details:

(1) Where the reporter is the owner of the house, the person in charge of the house or a physician who provided medical treatment to the infected person, the reporter shall disclose his name, address, his relation to the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic, along with the name, age, sex, nationality and current home address, or the address of the facility where treatment is being provided, of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic. The report shall also specify the date the person was infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic, along with the major symptoms of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic. Furthermore, where the reporter is the physician who provided medical treatment, the reporter shall also include in the report his preliminary diagnosis, whether the person is infected, or suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic, and the results of any treatment provided.

(2) Where the reporter is the person responsible for a healthcare facility, the reporter shall disclose his name, address, and his place of employment along with the name, age, sex, nationality and current home address, or the address of the facility where treatment is being provided, of the person infected or reasonably suspected of being infected with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic. The report shall also specify the date the person was infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic, along with the date the person was admitted for treatment, the preliminary diagnosis, the type of the disease, the major symptoms of the person who is infected, or suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic, and the results of any treatment provided.

(3) Where the reporter is the person who conducted an autopsy or the person responsible for the place where an autopsy occurred, the reporter shall disclose his name, address and his place of employment along with the name, age, sex, nationality and current home address of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic. The report shall also specify the name, address and place of employment of the person who collected the bio-specimen along with the preliminary diagnosis and the results of the examination.

(4) Where the reporter is the owner or operator of a business facility or any other place, the reporter shall disclose his name, address, place of employment, and his relationship to the person infected, or suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic along with the name, age, sex, nationality, current home address and major symptoms of the person infected, or reasonably suspected of being infected, with a Dangerous Communicable Disease, a Communicable Disease under Surveillance or an Epidemic.

Clause 9. This Notification shall come into force on the day following the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

Announced on the 23rd Day of November, B.E. 2560 (2017)

Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn

Minister of Public Health

Unofficial English translation by the Division of Legal Affairs, Department of Disease Control (August 2025), book page 115; the Thai text prevails.