§ Â 128. Powers as advisory board; investigations; abatement of nuisances.

(a) The Department of Health and Social Services shall be an advisor to the authorities of the State in all matters pertaining to public hygiene. It may make special inspections of hospitals, prisons, asylums, almshouses and other public institutions, and may investigate the cause of any special disease or mortality in any part of the State, and may make such regulations and may adopt such measures, including quarantine, vaccination, etc., as it deems most efficient to eradicate all infectious diseases.

(b) In localities where there are no local boards of health, or where the same shall refuse or neglect to act, the Department may investigate all complaints made in writing, and if it shall find a nuisance to exist it shall order the same to be abated in a reasonable time. In such cases the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services or the Secretary’s designee shall have all power and remedies given by law to local boards.