An infectious disease is a disease that can be carried by people and passed on.  Infectious diseases can be transmitted through the air, through close physical contact and through touch.  Infectious diseases are very hard to identify, prevent and cure as they often have several strains (types) and often have early symptoms not dissimilar to much less harmful viruses.

Health protection

Health protection is a joint responsibility across various bodies including the Council, Lancashire County Council, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England.

Health protection is a term we use to describe the range of actions carried out to protect the residents and visitors the Lancaster district.

Health protection includes:

• planning, prevention and management of infectious diseases
• controlling outbreaks
• vaccination and immunisations
• population screening programmes
• preparing and planning for public health emergencies

Powers

We can apply to a magistrate for a Part 2A order when we need additional powers to manage a person or item that may cause significant harm to human health from infection or contamination. This is as a last resort when other interventions have either failed or aren’t suitable.

A magistrate can grant a Part 2A order to a local authority if the various conditions set out in the 2010 Health Protection Regulations are met.

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