§ Ms. Ruddock To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on research findings on the viability of viruses found in faeces.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 14 February 1989]: I am not aware of any recent specific projects on this subject. However, it has been established that children recently vaccinated with oral polio vaccine continue for some time to excrete the vaccine in faeces.
Viruses such as rota virus are frequently identified in the faeces of children with viral gastro-enteritis, but the likely yield of such viruses diminishes with time. Faeces containing virus particles are potential sources of infection although the duration of infectivity depends on the dose of virus particles and the environmental conditions.