HC Deb 19 March 1963 vol 674 cc197-9
27. Mr. Buck

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what advantage has been taken of the recent outbreak of encephalitis lethargica, or sleeping sickness, in the Colchester area to assist research into the causes and treatment of this disease.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

I understand that detailed investigations of the recent cases of illness in the Colchester area have not confirmed the earlier suspicion that these were due to encephalitis lethargica.

Mr. Buck

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that Answer. I trust that he is not trying to dazzle me by science in his reply. Does he not agree that in fact it is certainly a virus disease akin to encephalitis lethargica? Should not the opportunity be taken to do research into this disease, whatever it be called, since it killed one man and put the lives of two young girls in grave jeopardy?

Mr. Freeth

I agree with my hon. Friend that the illnesses at Colchester were very sad and very horrible, but I am advised that no evidence of virological infection was found either in the one fatal case or in the two suspected cases and, furthermore, that microscopic examination of specimens of brain tissue taken from the man who died failed to confirm the diagnosis of encephalitis lethargica suggested at an earlier stage.

Mr. Buck

Can my hon. Friend explain why there was an original diagnosis of encephalitis lethargica substantiated by many medical people?

Mr. Freeth

It is possible for anyone to be mistaken, particularly when dealing with the complicated systems of what I am grateful to say is a very rare disease.

28. Mr. Buck

asked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science what steps he is taking to ensure that the results of research into encephalitis being undertaken in the United States of America are made available, by way of international agreement or otherwise, to research organisations and the medical profession in this country.

Mr. Denzil Freeth

The results of medical research are normally published in the scientific jnurnals and scientists working in different countries but, in the same fields maintain close contact with each other. I am not aware of any need to supplement this by special arrangements relating to research into encephalitis.

Mr. Buck

Is my hon. Friend aware that about 186,000 dollars have recently been made available by the Florida Board of Health for investigation into this and similar diseases? Does he not think that it would be appropriate to take special steps to see that the result of this research is made readily available in this country?

Mr. Freeth

We must remember that there are two very distinct diseases which come under the general heading of encephalitis. The first is the Japanese type B which occurs in Japan, Russia and Australia, and the other is the St. Louis type, on which work was done in the United States, and of which I do not think we have had any in this country for something like 50 years.

Mr. Hirst

Does not my hon. Friend agree that research—particularly medical research—should as far as possible have no frontiers? Is it not worth while making representations, if there are these evidences, so that, as far as possible, we may play our full part in spreading the creed that science should be universal?

Mr. Freeth

Yes, but all scientific research is published sooner or later. Close contact is maintained between scientists. All I am saying is that I have not had brought to my attention by scientists the need for any new organisation to help them the better to know what their colleagues are doing.

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