For section 7 of the [1889 c. 72.] Infectious Disease (Notification) Act 1889 (extension of definition of infectious disease) there shall be substituted the following section—
(1)The Secretary of State may direct, in respect of the area of any Health Board or of Scotland as a whole, in either case as may be specified in the direction, that this Act shall apply to any infectious disease so specified, other than a disease specifically mentioned in this Act, and any such direction may be permanent or for a specified period.
(2)Before making any such direction, the Secretary of State shall consult, in the case of a direction which is to apply to a particular area, the Health Board concerned, and, in the ease of a direction which is to apply to Scotland as a whole, the Scottish Health Service Planning Council.
(3)The Secretary of State shall give public notice of any such direction in such manner as he thinks sufficient for giving information to all persons interested, and shall notify the terms of the direction to all registered medical practitioners practising or residing in the area affected by the direction.
(4)A direction shall come into operation on such date as the Secretary of State may fix, being a date not earlier than one week from the first public notice given under subsection (3) above, or, in a case where the Secretary of State certifies that an emergency exists, a date not earlier than three days from the first public notice as aforesaid.
(5)Any direction under this section may be revoked or varied by a subsequent direction made in the like manner.”