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Chapter I General Provisions: General Provisions
المادة 1
Article (1) In applying the provisions of this Law, the following terms and phrases shall bear the meanings assigned thereto respectively, unless the context otherwise requires: State : United Arab Emirates. Ministry : Ministry of Health. Minister : Minister of Health. Health Body : Any federal government or local body having competence over health affairs in the State. Concerned Department : Department of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry or the equivalent department in other Health Bodies. Communicable Disease : An infectious disease resulting from the transmission of a pathogenic agent or one of its toxic products or secretions either directly or indirectly to another person and infecting him with the disease. Pathogenic Agent : The agent causing the Communicable Disease. Carrier of the Pathogenic Agent : The person who has the Pathogenic Agent in his body without showing the signs and symptoms of the disease. Epidemic : A health emergency represented in the emergence of cases of a disease that
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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 3 communicated among a population group in a certain geographical area within a certain period at a marked increase from the normal expectations compared to a period similar to the previous period at the same region and time in the same area and causes concerns at the national level. Contamination : The presence of an infectious agent from the Pathogenic Agents or those causing the Communicable Disease in a body, tool or material. Disinfection : The utilization of chemical, physical or other approved methods to eliminate the largest proportion of the agents causing the Communicable Disease. Endemic : A disease which is constantly present in a certain geographic area or population group. Infected : Each person infected with the Pathogenic Agent or its toxic products or secretions whether or not the signs and symptoms of the disease have appeared on him. Suspected : Is the person who is concluded to bear the pathogenic Agent from his medical history or signs that appear on him. Contact : Whoever in contact with the Infected or Carrier of the Pathogenic Agent in a manner that enables the transmission of infection to him during disease spread. Isolation : Is the separation of the Infected or Suspected from the healthy persons willingly or forcibly for the incubation period of the disease in suitable healthy places and conditions in order to prevent the transmission of infection from the Infected or Suspected to another person. Quarantine : Is the restriction of the activities of healthy people or animals that have been exposed to a Pathogenic Agent during disease spread for a period
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Federal Law No. (14) of 2014 On Control of Communicable Diseases 4 equivalent to the longest incubation period. Involuntary Hospitalization : To force the patient to stay in a health facility for a certain period in order to receive the treatment prescribed to him. Surveillance : To constantly inspect of all aspects of occurrence and spread of the Communicable Disease through collecting, comparing and analyzing data for the purposes of public health in a systematic and continuous manner and to broadcast information on public health in time for the purposes of health evaluation and response, when necessary. Immunization : To protect individuals from Communicable Disease that can be protected from by the administration of vaccines, serums or preventive medications. Facility : It is the shop, factory, company or any other place where a number of people work. Health Facility : It is the Facility where a health activity is practiced regardless the number of workers therein. Voluntary Anonymous Testing : Is the testing that grants the person, who chooses it within the frame of prevention and treatment from Communicable Diseases, strict confidentiality which enables the patient to hide his identity upon undergoing testing.
