1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, after five years’ service, any condition of impairment of health caused by any infectious disease, disease of the lungs or respiratory tract, hypertension, or disease of the heart resulting in total or partial disability or death to a uniformed member of a paid fire department, who successfully passed a physical examination within five years prior to the time a claim is made for such disability or death, which examination failed to reveal any evidence of such condition, shall be presumed to have been suffered in line of duty, unless the contrary be shown by competent evidence. In order to receive the presumption that an infectious disease was contracted in the line of duty, the member shall submit to an annual physical examination, at which a blood test is administered.

2. This section shall apply only to the provisions of chapter 87, RSMo 1959.

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 87.005

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.

3. As used in this section, the term “infectious disease” means the human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, diphtheria, meningococcal meningitis, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, hemorrhagic fever, plague, rabies, and severe acute respiratory syndrome.