[Adopted 12-11-1942]
The following words as used in these regulations shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is required by context or is specifically prescribed:
BOARD OF HEALTH
Includes the boards, department or officer having like powers and duties in cities or towns.
CARRIER
A person who, without symptoms of a disease dangerous to the public health, harbors and may disseminate the specific microorganisms of that disease.
CONTACT
Any person known to have been sufficiently near an infected person or animal to have been presumably exposed to transfer of infectious material directly or by articles freshly soiled with such material.
IMMUNES
An "immune" person is one who has had the disease or has been artificially immunized against it, and is presumably protected against another attack.
INCUBATION PERIOD
The usual period of time which elapses between the exposure of a person to infection and the development of the symptoms of the disease to which he may have been exposed.
ISOLATION
The separation of persons suffering from any disease dangerous to the public health, or carriers of the infecting microorganisms, from other persons, in such places and under such conditions as will prevent the direct or indirect conveyance of the infectious agent to susceptible persons.
LAST EXPOSURE
The date of the removal to a hospital, or the recovery or death of the patients or the date on which the nonimmune contact leaves and remains out of the house where the patient is isolated.
PLACARD
An official notice, written or printed, posted as a warning of the presence of disease dangerous to the public health on the premises or in the apartment or room so placarded.
QUARANTINE
The restriction to the premises, house or apartment of materials and persons that presumably have been exposed to a disease dangerous to the public health. [Note: In view of the various ambiguous and inaccurate uses to which the words "isolation" and "quarantine" are frequently put, it has seemed best to adopt arbitrarily the word "isolation" as describing the limitation put upon the movements of an individual (or animal) known to be sick or to be a "carrier," and the word "quarantine" as describing the limitation put upon individuals exposed (contacts) to disease.]
SUSCEPTIBLES or NONIMMUNES
A "susceptible" or "nonimmune" person is one who is not known to have acquired immunity to the particular communicable disease in question.
The diseases declared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to be dangerous to the public health are reportable under the provisions of MGL c. 111, §§ 6, 7, 109, 111, and 112, as amended, and notice of the occurrence of each case must be sent to the Board of Health in the manner required by the statutes. (Note: Gonorrhea and syphilis should be reported directly to the State Department of Public Health on special forms provided and according to the rules and regulations of the Department made under MGL c. 111, § 6, as amended.)
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code.
Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as amended.
A. 
If a physician knows or has cause to believe that a person he visits is infected with a disease dangerous to the public health, or if either eye of an infant whom or whose mother, a physician, or a hospital medical officer registered under MGL c. 111, § 9, visits, becomes inflamed, swollen and red, or shows an unnatural discharge within two weeks after birth, he shall immediately give written notice thereof, signed by him, to the Board of Health of the town where the patient is being attended by him. If the Board of Health which receives such written notice is the Board of Health of a town other than that wherein the patient dwells, it shall, immediately upon receipt of such notice, send a copy thereof to the Board of Health of the town wherein the patient dwells; and, in addition thereto, the Board of Health which receives such written notice, whether or not it is the Board of Health of the town wherein the patient dwells, shall send a copy to the Board of Health of the town in which the patient is known to have contracted such disease and to the Board of Health of each town in which he is known to have exposed any person to such a disease. If a physician or such a hospital medical officer refuses or neglects to give the notice required by this section, he shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $200.
B. 
The foregoing provisions of this section and the provisions of MGL c. 111, § 109, shall not apply to gonorrhea and syphilis, except in the case of eye infections in infants under two weeks of age. Any person having either of said diseases shall be reported to local boards of health, either directly or through the department in accordance with such special rules and regulations as the department may make, having due regard for the best interests of the public.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code.
When a householder knows that a person within his family or house is sick with a disease dangerous to the public health, he shall immediately give notice thereof to the Board of Health in the manner required by the statute (MGL c. 111, § 109, as amended); provided, however, that in cases in which a physician has been called in, his notification will be accepted in place of the householder.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code.
MGL c. 111, § 110, as amended.
If either eye of an infant becomes inflamed, swollen and red, or shows an unnatural discharge within two weeks after birth, the nurse, relative or other attendant having charge of such infant shall report in writing, within six hours thereafter, to the Board of Health of the town where the infant is, the fact that such inflammation, swelling and redness of the eyes or unnatural discharge exists. On receipt of such report, or of notice of the same symptoms given by a physician, or a hospital medical officer registered under MGL c. 112, § 9, as provided by the following sections, the Board of Health shall take such immediate action as it may deem necessary, including, so far as may be possible, consultation with an oculist and the employment of a trained nurse, in order that blindness may be prevented.
A. 
A person who is sick with any of the diseases dangerous to the public health shall be isolated in the manner and for the periods prescribed in the rules and regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
B. 
In addition, the following shall apply to school children:
(1) 
Impetigo. Minimum period of isolation: until crusts have disappeared and infected area is healed. Children may attend school if small areas are protected with ointment or infected areas easily protected with bandage.
(2) 
Ivy poisoning. Minimum period of isolation: until the active stage has subsided. If infected area can be protected with bandages, no restrictions.
(3) 
Pediculosis. Minimum period of isolation of patient: until all nits have been removed from the hair.
(4) 
Ringworm. Minimum period of isolation of patient: when infected areas are on the exposed surfaces of the body, the child must be excluded from school until entirely healed.
(5) 
Scabies. Minimum period of isolation of patient: until the active stage has subsided.
Whoever is sick with anterior poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis), diphtheria, meningococcal meningitis, scarlet fever, small pox, typhoid fevers, or any other of the diseases declared dangerous to the public health that the Board of Health may designate, shall be immediately isolated in a place or room, approved by the Board of Health, or its agents, or shall be moved to a hospital set apart for the treatment of such diseases, and no person so isolated shall leave such room or hospital until the period of isolation for the disease with which he is sick shall have elapsed and until the Board of Health or its agent shall permit him to do so.
A. 
Houses or portions of houses in which there is a person sick shall be placarded for those diseases dangerous to the public health, for which placarding is required under the minimum isolation and quarantine requirements of the State Department of Public Health. (Note: In the case of tenement houses, apartment houses or like structures, as much of the building shall be placarded as in the judgment of the Board of Health is consistent with the best interests of the public.)
B. 
The card shall not be removed except on the authority of the Board of Health.
No person except physicians, nurses, and those whose duty it is to minister to the patient shall be allowed to enter the place of isolation during the continuance of the disease, unless permitted to do so by the Board of Health or its agent.
Nurses, and others caring for a person isolated as above, shall wash their hands thoroughly with hot water, soap and a scrubbing brush immediately after handling the patient, his discharges or any article soiled by his discharges, before mingling with others. They shall change their outer clothing before going out.
All eating utensils and linen used by the patient shall be boiled for at least 15 minutes immediately after being taken from the room. Upon release of the patient, woolen articles shall be exposed to sunlight and air for at least eight hours.
The discharges of a person sick with typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, or dysentery shall be mixed with chloride of lime or other disinfectant approved by the Board of Health and shall be kept in contact therewith for at least 30 minutes before being emptied into the hopper or privy vault.
A. 
Contacts shall be under the restrictions prescribed in the rules and regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, except that Note 8 shall not apply in this City.
B. 
In addition, children living in a family in which a case of tuberculosis exists or has existed within two years shall be required to have an X-ray of the chest and must follow the recommendation of their physician or clinic as to re-examination before being allowed to attend school. A copy of the X-ray report or statement from the private physician should be submitted to the Board of Health.
Attendants of boardinghouses for infants shall be required hereafter to have a physical examination, including an X-ray of the chest, every two years. A copy of the X-ray report or statement from the private physician should be submitted to the Board of Health.
Children who have recovered from or have been exposed to any disease declared dangerous to the public health (see § 400-1.2) may return to school only after certification by the Board of Health or after examination by the school physician as prescribed in MGL c. 71, § 55, as amended.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code.