When the Secretary of the Department of Health has knowledge or is informed of the existence of a suspected case or outbreak of a communicable disease:

1. (1) The secretary shall take whatever steps necessary for the investigation and control of the disease as authorized by acts of the General Assembly under Title 20 of the Arkansas Code; and

2. (2) If the secretary finds that the nature of the disease and the circumstances of the case or outbreak warrant such action, the secretary shall:

   1. (A) Make, or cause to be made, an examination of the patient in order to verify the diagnosis;
   2. (B) Make an investigation to determine the source of the infection; and
   3. (C) Take appropriate steps to prevent or control spread of the disease.