INFANTILE PARALYSIS (Hansard, 11 November 1926)

§ 23. Captain FAIRFAX
asked the Minister of Health if he has any further statement to make on the progress recorded in dealing with the recent outbreaks of infantile paralysis in this country?

§ Sir K. WOOD
My right hon. Friend is glad to say that the number of cases of infantile paralysis notified in Broadstairs and Leicester during the past two weeks was only 15, as compared with 54 in the previous fortnight. There were no fresh cases in Broadstairs last week. He would like to take this opportunity of stating that infantile paralysis is a disease which has been prevalent in this country for many years. It is one of a group of epidemic nervous diseases of which our knowledge is still very imperfect, but research is being prosecuted, and it is hoped that means will be discovered which will lead to the exercise of more effective control over its spread. His Department has closely watched the outbreaks and a specially skilled member of his staff has visited the areas most affected to assist the local authority in providing for the supervision and control of the outbreaks.

§ Captain FAIRFAX
How many deaths have occurred in all in this outbreak?

§ Sir K. WOOD
I do not think a large number if my hon. and gallant Friend will put a question down I will endeavour to answer it.

§ 24. Mr. EVERARD
asked the Minister of Health the number of cases of infantile paralysis that have occurred each month since May last and whether he has any further information regarding the causes of the disease?

§ Sir K. WOOD
As regards the first part of the question, with my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second part, I would refer him to the answer which I have given to-day on this subject to a question asked by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Norwich.

	Notifications of
1926		Acute Poliomyelitis.	Acute Polio-encephalitis.
May	…	18	3
June	…	29	3
July	…	56	7
August	…	148	16
September	…	215	7
October	…	319	54