§ Mr. AMMON(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement to the House as to the reported outbreak of infantile paralysis at Broadstairs and Leicester?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)An outbreak of infantile paralysis occurred in Broadstairs this month. 53 cases have been notified and there have been two deaths. The outbreak has been mainly restricted to private boarding schools and day-schools in Broadstairs; three cases have occurred in convalescent homes. A medical officer of the Ministry visited Broadstairs immediately and has conferred with the medical officer of health and the local medical practitioners as to the administrative arrangements for dealing with the outbreak. He has also been available for consultation in regard to individual cases. All necessary precautions have been taken to control the epidemic; leaflets of advice have been issued and facilities for hospital isolation and disinfection provided.
The outbreak in Leicester began at the end of July, and reached its maximum in the week ending 18th September. The last case was notified on the 14th October. There were altogether 73 cases, six of which were fatal. They occurred sporadically, all over the town. In no instance did more than one case occur in a household and no one school was specially affected. Each case was personally investigated by the medical officer of health who arranged for the necessary isolation and for treatment, either at the Isolation Hospital or the Royal Infirmary.
§ Mr. AMMONMay I ask whether instructions were issued from the hon. Gentleman's Department, as far as Broadstairs was concerned, that all reports were to be suppressed, and no information was to be allowed to leak out; and whether his Departmental experts are satisfied that this is not connected with sleepy sickness?
§ Sir K. WOODAs regards the latter part of the question, I think I can say we are satisfied there is no question of sleepy sickness involved. With regard to publication, all notifications have been published in the official return week by week, and I think it was last week that the council at Broadstairs, which is the proper body to make the statement, issued an official statement to the public generally.
§ Mr. THURTLECan the hon. Gentleman say whether his Department has any theory at all as to the origin of this outbreak?
§ Sir K. WOODI would like to give a careful reply to a question of that kind. The hon. Member had better put it on the Order Paper.