§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation or otherwise encourage tour operators and travel agents to include in their advertising brochures advice on precautions to prevent contracting poliomyelitis in certain countries where they advertise holidays; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonIt is the policy of my Department to encourage tour operators and travel agents to ensure that advice is given to intending travellers about precautions against all diseases likely to be encountered by them, but I do not consider that legislation would be appropriate. I am glad to note that there has been a considerable increase in the demand by travel agents for "Notice to Travellers—Health Protection".
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how effective is the vaccine against poliomyelitis; what is its effect; how it is administered; what is the cost of administering it; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThe effectiveness of poliomyelitis vaccine can be judged by the decline in the disease in this country since its introduction into general use in 1956. In that year a total of 3,096 cases of poliomyelitis were notified in England. Subsequently the numbers declined sharply and annual notifications for the years 1968, 1969 and 1970 were 24, 10 and six respectively.
Initially poliomyelitis vaccine was available for administration only by injection, but in 1962 vaccine for oral administration became available, and has now largely supplanted injected vaccine.
The cost of the vaccine used in 1970 was £128,378; information about the cost of administering it is not available.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to advertise widely the dangers of contracting poliomyelitis and other crippling diseases whilst on holiday overseas; if he will urge general practitioners and other responsible bodies to advocate protection against these diseases; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. AlisonIn the leaflet "Notice to Travellers—Health Protection", a new edition of which was issued recently and has been widely circulated, vaccination against poliomyelitis is advised for travellers of any age going anywhere other than to Europe, Canada and the United States of America. Similar advice is given in "Essential Information" issued by the Passport Office, and also in the memorandum "Communicable Diseases Contracted Outside Great Britain" which has been sent to all family doctors.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of poliomyelitis were contracted by residents of this country last year; in what country the infection was contracted; what was the age distribution and sex of those so afflicted; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonThere were five notifications of poliomyelitis during 1970 for persons resident in England. Two were thought to have contracted infection in England, one in Greece or Turkey, one in Morocco or the Sahara and one in Nigeria or the Sahara. There were four males, aged 15, 27, 38 and 43 years, and one female aged 26 years.