21
Plague precaution-
ary measures in case of suspected
vessels or aircraft.
Uninfected or healthy
vessels or aircraft
16
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live rats are still found, in which event a second fumigation may be required by a Health Officer, but the cost of such second fumigation shall not be charged to the owners or agents of the vessel under section 41. In other cases the complete destruction of the rats shall be effected on board when the holds are empty. In the case of ships in ballast this process shall be carried out as soon as possible before taking cargo.
(2) If the vessel is to unload a part of its cargo only and if a Health Officer considers that it is impossible to carry out complete deratisation, the said vessel may remain in port for the time required to unload that part of its cargo, provided that all precautions, including isolation, are taken. to the satisfaction of a Health Officer to prevent rats from passing from the vessel to the shore, either during unloading or otherwise.
(3) The unloading of cargo shall be carried out under the control of a Health Officer, who shall take all measures necessary to prevent the persons employed on this duty from becoming infected. Such persons shall be subjected to observation or surveillance for a period not exceeding six days from the time when they have ceased to work at the unloading of the vessel.
49. Plague suspected vessels and aircraft shall undergo the measures specified in section 47 (i), (iv) and (v) and in section 48. In addition the passengers and crew may be subjected to surveillance which shall not exceed six days reckoned from the date of arrival.
50. A vessel or aircraft shall be regarded as uninfected or healthy, notwithstanding its coming from an infected port, if there has been no human or rat plague on board either at coming from the time of departure or during the voyage or on arrival, and if the investigations regarding rats have not shown the exist- ence of any unusual mortality.
an infected
port.
Pratique.
Periodical deratisation of vessels.
51. An uninfected or healthy vessel or aircraft shall be given pratique immediately with the reservation that a Health Officer may prescribe the following measures in con- nection therewith:-
(i) Medical inspection to determine whether the condition of the ship corresponds to the definition of an uninfected ship.
(ii) In exceptional cases and for wellfounded reasons which shall be communicated in writing to the captain of the vessel, destruction of rats on board under the conditions specified in section 48 (1).
(iii) Subjection of the passengers and crew to surveillance for a period not exceeding six days from the date on which the vessel left the infected port. The crew may be prevented during the same period from leaving the vessel except on duty of which a Health Officer has been notified.
52. All vessels liable to harbour rats shall be periodically deratised, or be permanently so maintained that any rat population is kept down to the minimum. In the first case they shall receive Deratisation Certificates, and in the second Deratisation Exemption Certificates from a Health Officer. Every such certificate shall be valid for six months, but this period may be extended by one month in the case of a vessel proceeding to its home port.