§ 74. Captain FAIRFAXasked the Minister of Health if he will give the latest available figures for the cases of and deaths from encephalitis lethargica; and state what progress has been made in arresting this disease or investigating its causes?
§ Sir K. WOODThe total number of cases of encephalitis lethargica notified in England and Wales during the present year up to 6th November was 1,946, and the approximate number of deaths up to the end of August was 935. As regards the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend understands that the Medical Research Council will shortly publish a report on this disease containing a statement of the progress which has been made in the search for its cause. Until this has been discovered and means have been devised for controlling the development and spread of the disease, it is necessary to rely on those methods which have proved efficacious in dealing with other infectious diseases.