(a) Whenever it may be demonstrated that morbidity or mortality or decreased efficiency in appreciable numbers of the residents of the village is caused by any single illness or set of circumstances, the health officer may adopt such measures as will alert the citizens to the facts and to the actions which may reasonably be expected to exert an effect on postponing death, limiting the extent of morbidity and facilitating rehabilitation of persons sustaining such illness or experiencing such circumstances.
(b) Within the limits of medical knowledge about the cause of such numerically important conditions, the health officer may develop programs that may be expected to reduce the number of residents who may ultimately sustain such illness or be exposed to such risk.