Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§266 Special quarantine powers in time of war

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part Part G— - Quarantine and Inspection › § 266

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, after consulting the Surgeon General, can make rules during wartime to take into custody and examine anyone reasonably thought to have a contagious disease listed by Executive orders under section 264(b) and who might spread it to U.S. service members or people making or moving military supplies. If an exam shows they are infected, they may be held for as long and in the way that is reasonably needed.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §266

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

To protect the military and naval forces and war workers of the United States, in time of war, against any communicable disease specified in Executive orders as provided in subsection (b) of section 264 of this title, the Secretary, in consultation with the Surgeon General, is authorized to provide by regulations for the apprehension and examination, in time of war, of any individual reasonably believed (1) to be infected with such disease and (2) to be a probable source of infection to members of the armed forces of the United States or to individuals engaged in the production or transportation of arms, munitions, ships, food, clothing, or other supplies for the armed forces. Such regulations may provide that if upon examination any such individual is found to be so infected, he may be detained for such time and in such manner as may be reasonably necessary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Pub. L. 107–188, which directed substitution of “the Secretary, in consultation with the Surgeon General,” for “the Surgeon General, on recommendation of the National Advisory Health Council,” and striking out of “in a communicable stage” after “(1) to be infected with such disease”, in section 363 of the Public Health Act, was executed to this section, which is section 363 of the Public Health Service Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education. Termination of War and EmergenciesJoint Res.
July 25, 1947, ch. 327, § 3, 61 Stat. 451, provided that in the interpretation of this section, the date
July 25, 1947, shall be deemed to be the date of termination of any state of war theretofore declared by Congress and of the national emergencies proclaimed by the President on Sept. 8, 1939, and
May 27, 1941.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Office of Surgeon General abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, and functions thereof transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, set out as a note under section 202 of this title. Office of Surgeon General reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Mar. 30, 1987, 52 F.R. 11754.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 266

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73