§ Lord Lyellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been reported since the start of this year.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe number of suspect cases placed under restrictions each week is as follows:
Week ending Number 5 January 1990 245 12 January 1990 293 19 January 1990 283 26 January 1990 294 2 February 1990 309 9 February 1990 329 16 February 1990 361 23 February 1990 369 2 March 1990 424 9 March 1990 392 16 March 1990 402 23 March 1990 354 30 March 1990 334 6 April 1990 328 13 April 1990 295 20 April 1990 274 27 April 1990 303 4 May 1990 349 11 May 1990 338 18 May 1990 399 25 May 1990 365 1 June 1990 353 8 June 1990 362 15 June 1990 247 22 June 1990 291 29 June 1990 262 6 July 1990 219 13 July 1990 206 The pattern of suspect cases reported this year has so far followed closely the trend that occurred in 1989, 1774WA in which an increase in cases during January and February was followed by an overall decrease during the spring months, albeit with fluctuations.
While there has been an underlying decrease in the numbers reported in the last few months compared to the high point in February/March, this has been subject to marked fluctuations and it cannot be assumed that this trend will continue.