Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1938, Page 179

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General Quarantine and Fever Acts (last amended in 1933).
Special precautionary measures must ahvays be taken at the ex-
pense of the State to defend the country against the plague, Asiatic
cholera, smallpox, dysentery, and yellow fever and also against
their spreading in the country if tliey have been brought here; but
>t is also permitted to take similar precautions against other epidemics
coming to the country from abroad, (measles, whooping cough, in-
fluenza, etc.). Whole districts may be permitted to isolate themselves
»t their own expense against serious epidemics. This has frequently
been done successfully, especially in out-of-the-way districts.
Smallpox Vaccination Act (last amendment of the whole Act 1901).
Vaccination for smallpox has been carried out in Iceland since
1802 through the agency and at the expense of the State, and there
has been general, compulsory vaccination prescribed by law since
1810. Vaccination is done twice, first when the child is two years old
and repeated when it is 12 years of age; if on either occasion the vac-
cination does not take effect, it is repeated for three years in suc-
cession. Opinions have been expressed to the effect that it would
be safe to discontinue the general vaccination and the matter is now
under consideration.
The Prevention of Tuberculosis Act (last amendment of the whole
Act 1940).
Since 1903 there have been in force laws concerning prevention of
tuberculosis, and a detailed Prevention of Tuberculosis Act since
1921. Under this Act the main stress was laid on the fact that tuber-
culous persons should be provided with accommodation in hospitals
a»d sanatoria, and such accommodation is indeed provided at the
cost of public funds. Further the provisions of the Act state that
children and young people shall be kept away from tuberculous patients
»nd medical inspection is also prescribed for all schools not least with
a view to this end. The recent revision of the Tuberculosis Act
authorises still more thorough méasures for the prevention of tuber-
culosis, many of which indeed had alreadj' been brought into practice
>• e. an organised general search for tuberculous sufferers and „car-
>'iers“ by means of comprehensive tuberculin tests and X-ray mass
examinations, covering, if possible, all the inhabitants of the country.
Assistance in this search is given by health centres in the chief towns,
"which ai'e txlso expected to advise tuberculous patients before they
Mo to hospital, and especially after they leave hospital, and also to
uiake thorough inspection of their homes. In the districts outside the
towns it is expected that the disti'ict doctors will be able to cari-y
°ut these duties working in cooperation with the nearest health centres.
•'he Act also makes provision for careful supervision of those who
have recovered from tuberculosis, and for their life to be made as
easy as possible as the best insurance against a relapse. In addition
1° these preventive measures steps are taken to hasten the cai-rying
°ut of measures to provide the quickest and most effective medical