Epidemic Diseases Act (EDA), 1897

Genesis:

• Enacted by the British colonial government in 1897 to combat the bubonic plague outbreak in the Bombay Presidency (modern-day Mumbai and surrounding regions).
• Introduced under Viceroy Lord Elgin-II (1894–1899) to grant emergency powers for epidemic control.

Key Provisions:

1. Government Powers:
   • Allows central and state governments to take preventive measures (quarantine, isolation, lockdowns) and enforce regulations to contain epidemics.
   • Permits inspection of ships/vessels at ports to prevent disease spread.
2. Legal Enforcement:
   • Violations (e.g., defying quarantine orders) are punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), with penalties of up to 6 months’ imprisonment or a ₹1,000 fine.
3. 2020 Amendment:
   • Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020: Introduced during COVID-19 to criminalize violence against healthcare workers (e.g., assaults, damage to property).
   • Stipulates penalties ranging from 3 months to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to ₹5 lakh for such offenses.

International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005
Overview:

• Adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1969; revised in 2005 post-SARS and avian influenza outbreaks.
• A legally binding framework for 196 countries (including all WHO member states) to manage cross-border health risks.

Core Objectives:

1. Early Detection and Reporting:
   • Requires countries to report Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) (e.g., COVID-19, Ebola).
2. Response Coordination:
   • Establishes protocols for international collaboration, travel/ trade restrictions, and capacity-building (e.g., labs, surveillance).
3. PHEIC Criteria:
   • Events must meet four criteria: serious public health impact, unusual/unexpected nature, risk of international spread, and potential travel/trade restrictions.

Definitions: Outbreak, Epidemic, Pandemic

1. Outbreak:
   • Sudden spike in disease cases within a localized area (e.g., a village or school).
   • Example: 2022 monkeypox clusters in non-endemic countries.
2. Epidemic:
   • Rapid spread of disease beyond normal expectancy in a region/country.
   • Example: 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
3. Pandemic:
   • Global spread of a novel infectious disease affecting multiple continents.
   • Example: COVID-19 (2020) and 1918 Spanish Flu.

Interplay Between EDA and IHR

• EDA: Focuses on domestic legal authority for epidemic control in India.
• IHR: Provides a global framework for reporting and managing cross-border health threats.
• During COVID-19, India used the EDA alongside IHR obligations to enforce lockdowns and share data with WHO.

Critical Analysis:

• EDA’s Limitations: Archaic law with vague provisions; lacks guidelines for modern challenges (e.g., data privacy, vaccine distribution).
• IHR Challenges: Compliance gaps in low-income countries; politicization of PHEIC declarations.

Conclusion:
While the EDA remains a cornerstone of India’s epidemic response, the IHR ensures global coordination. Modernizing both frameworks is essential to address evolving public health threats.