§ Mr. ConwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects tests to be available within the Shropshire health authority area for the foetal disease cytomegalovirus.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyFor any screening programme the benefits conferred by antenatal screening must clearly, outweigh any risks, such as diagnosing a foetus as infected or likely to be seriously handicapped when it is not. Studies of the pattern of cytomegalovirus infection in relation to pregnancy suggest that screening is not appropriate, since there is no drug treatment available at present and the risk that an infected mother will have a seriously handicapped baby is low.
I understand that in Shropshire a test is undertaken on newborn babies who show symptoms which may indicate that they have a virus. If the test indicates an abnormality, specimens are immediately sent to Manchester for further tests. Where necessary, babies are given the treatment they need without delay in Shropshire.