§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the risk to children of toxocaracanis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Moyle,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th June 1978; Vol. 952, c. 166], gave the following information:
Toxocara canis is not a notifiable disease but, as indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) on 22nd May—[Vol. 950, c. 378–9]—the total number of cases reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service is very small. When the disease is contracted by young children there can be serious complications but, fortunately, these are extremely rare.