HC Deb 04 May 1984 vol 59 cc253-4W
Mr.Kennedy

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland

  1. (1) whether he will consider providing funds specifically for the purpose of eradicating hydatid disease in Scotland;
  2. (2) whether he will take steps to include hydatid disease on the list of officially notifiable diseases;
  3. (3) if he will estimate the cost of a controlled medical programme to bring about the eradication of hydatid disease; and if he will make a statement;
  4. (4) how many reported cases there have been over the periods (a) 1970 to 1975, (b) 1975 to 1980 and (c) to date of hydatid disease; and, of these, how many required hospitalisation or surgery for treatment;
  5. (5) if he will list the places of domicile for each of the recent reported cases of hydatid disease.

Mr. John Mackay

Although hydatid disease may be contracted by people, control of the hydatid tapeworm is essentially an animal health problem, the eradication of which is a matter for veterinary rather than medical intervention. As the disease is not infectious in humans and cannot be diagnosed in live animals, it would not be appropriate to make it notifiable. An exercise to determine the extent and geography of the disease in slaughtered sheep and cattle is currently being undertaken by the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit, and until this is completed about the end of this year, I am not in a position to consider the provision of funds for an eradication programme.

The statistical information requested so far as it is available is shown in the following table.

Hospital Discharges 1970–1982
After Operation No Operation Total
1970–74 17 32 49
1975–79 16 20 36
1980–82 2 7 9
New Admissions by Health District 1980–82
  • 1980
  • 1 Argyll and Clyde
  • 1 South Lothian
  • 1981
  • 1 Southern District, Highland Area
  • 1982
  • 1 North Lothian
  • 1 Renfrew
  • 1 Shetland

Mr. Kennedy

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total grants which his Department make available on an annual basis for the scientific investigation into, and medical treatment of, hydatid disease.

Mr. John MacKay

My Department is not currently supporting research in this area.