§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what research he has made into the cause of the recent influenza virus and its effect on school attendances; and what measures he proposes to take to strengthen resistance to such epidemics.
§ Mr. RossI am advised that the influenza virus isolated from recent cases in Scotland is a strain of Type B, and that the disease, though widespread, is of a relatively mild type. In some areas school attendances have been fairly seriously affected, though precise figures of absences are not available.
Resistance to epidemics depends on many factors, among the most important being good general health and nutrition. Protective vaccination has been available 24W for some years to the priority groups recommended by the Central and Scottish Health Services Councils.