(a) Every physician called in to care for or treat a person afflicted with a contagious disease or an epidemic disease shall make a report of the same within twenty four (24) hours thereafter, to the health officer.
(b) In case no physician is in attendance it shall be the duty of the person in charge of or having the care of such person to make a report to the health officer within twenty four (24) hours from the time that the disease is recognized. (M.C. 1963, § 18.101)