§ 17. Mr. Martenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now prepared to classify psittacosis as a notifiable disease.
§ Mr. AlisonNo, Sir. Transmission between humans is almost unknown and diagnosis is dependent on the results of laboratory procedures. Formal notification would add little to existing means of control of this disease.
§ Mr. MartenIn view of the growing public concern about this disease—a very nasty disease that humans can get from certain types of bird, such as the parrot, and that has increased fourfold since 1966—will not the Government consider consulting the Ministry of Agriculture and discussing the whole matter with the Veterinary Association? What is the objection to doing what I ask?
§ Mr. AlisonThe objection is that we believe it to be unnecessary. We already have the means of keeping close tabs on the incidence of the disease. The increase in England is not as striking as my hon. Friend suggests. For example, the number of established cases of psittacosis was 66 in 1967 and 69 in 1972; the number of deaths is never more than one or two a year. I shall certainly carefully weigh what my hon. Friend has said, but we are satisfied at present that we have all the necessary tabs on this disease.