§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he is undertaking into cattle disease indistinguishable in symptoms from BSE but not proven as BSE by post-mortem examination.
§ Mr. MacleanThere are several common diseases of cattle in which the clinical signs are similar to some of the symptoms of BSE, most notably hypomagnesaemia, nervous ketosis, hypocalacemia and listeriosis. A proportion of clinically suspect cases of BSE which do not have the post-mortem changes of the disease is therefore to be expected. Hypersensitivity, agression or recumbency may frequently prevent investigations into alternative causes either because farm staff will be at risk of injury, or because suspects have to be destroyed in order to prevent further suffering. Nevertheless, histopathological studies of the brains of such cattle have been carried out and no new significant neurological diseases have been detected. We will continue to monitor such cases through the epidemic.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table for each county of England and Wales for each month of 1991 to date showing the number of cattle slaughtered as BSE suspect; and how many and what percentage of cases were subsequently confirmed by post-mortem examinations.
§ Mr. MacleanThe information requested is in the table:
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County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE confirmed Number pending Oxfordshire 18 18 100.00 0 Powys 21 17 80.95 0 Shropshire 47 40 85.11 0 Somerset 290 241 84.56 5 Staffordshire 35 29 82.86 0 Suffolk 37 34 91.89 0 Surrey 14 11 78.57 0 Sussex East 32 28 87.50 0 Sussex West 42 41 97.62 0 West Midlands 2 1 50.00 0 Tyne and Wear 1 0 0.00 0 Warwickshire 19 14 73.68 0 Wiltshire 140 110 78.57 0 Yorkshire North 78 61 78.21 0 Yorkshire South 9 9 100.00 0 Yorkshire West 8 7 87.50 0 180W 181W
Number of uspect BSE animals slaughtered February 1991 County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE confirmed Number pending Avon 73 42 64.62 8 Bedfordshire 9 9 100.00 0 Berkshire 11 8 72.73 0 Buckinghamshire 16 11 68.75 0 Cambridgeshire 3 3 100.00 0 Cheshire 60 54 90.00 0 Cleveland 1 0 0.00 0 Clwyd 28 20 90.91 3 Cornwall 120 83 69.17 0 Cumbria 43 37 86.05 0 Derbyshire 27 25 92.59 0 Devon 169 148 88.10 0 Dorset 135 114 84.44 0 Durham 9 8 88.89 0 Dyfed 70 62 88.57 0 Essex 4 3 75.00 0 Mid Glamorgan 2 2 100.00 0 South Glamorgan 2 2 100.00 0 Gloucestershire 51 47 92.16 0 Gwent 11 10 90.91 0 Gwynedd 5 3 60.00 0 Hampshire 41 27 65.85 1 Hereford and Worcester 33 31 93.94 0 Hertfordshire 6 5 83.33 0 Humberside 8 6 75.00 0 Isle of Wight 10 10 100.00 0 Kent 23 19 82.61 0 Lancashire 47 41 87.23 0 Leicestershire 34 30 88.24 0 Lincolnshire 9 9 100.00 0 London 4 3 100.00 0 Manchester 5 5 100.00 0 Norfolk 25 16 64.00 1 Northamptonshire 14 13 92.86 0 Northumberland 13 12 92.31 0 Nottinghamshire 5 4 80.00 0 Oxfordshire 32 20 64.52 0 Powys 18 13 72.22 0 Shropshire 34 33 97.06 0 Somerset 200 173 87.37 5 Staffordshire 36 24 66.67 0 Suffolk 16 14 87.50 0 Surrey 6 6 100.00 0 Sussex East 24 18 75.00 0 Sussex West 52 43 82.69 0 West Glamorgan 2 2 100.00 0 West Midlands 1 1 100.00 0 Warwickshire 15 14 93.33 0 Wiltshire 120 101 84.87 0 Yorkshire North 67 56 83.58 0 Yorkshire South 4 4 100.00 0 Yorkshire West 4 4 100.00 0
Number of suspect BSE animals slaughtered March 1991 County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE confirmed Number pending Avon 63 47 83.93 7 Bedfordshire 5 5 100.00 0 Berkshire 11 11 100.00 0 Buckinghamshire 16 15 93.75 0 Cambridgeshire 6 6 100.00 0 Cheshire 58 49 84.48 0 Clwyd 32 19 76.00 7 Cornwall 174 141 81.03 0 Cumbria 39 34 87.18 0 Derbyshire 28 26 92.86 0 Devon 249 213 86.23 2 Dorset 170 143 84.12 0 Durham 3 3 100.00 0 Dyfed 96 83 86.46 0 Essex 17 9 64.29 3 Mid Glamorgan 9 9 100.00 0 West Glamorgan 1 1 100.00 0 Gloucestershire 45 36 80.00 0 Gwent 17 15 88.24 0 Gwynedd 4 4 100.00 0 Hampshire 82 72 88.89 1 Hereford and Worcester 32 30 93.75 0 Hertfordshire 7 6 85.71 0 Humberside 5 5 100.00 0 Isle of Wight 12 11 91.67 0 Kent 29 24 82.76 0 Lancashire 71 62 88.57 1 Leicestershire 40 39 97.50 0 Lincolnshire 6 6 100.00 0 London 2 2 100.00 0 Manchester 2 2 100.00 0 Merseyside 2 1 50.00 0 Norfolk 39 35 92.11 1 Northamptonshire 20 14 70.00 0 Northumberland 11 10 90.91 0 Nottinghamshire 15 13 86.67 0 Oxfordshire 26 24 92.31 0 Powys 21 14 66.67 0 Shropshire 39 36 92.31 0 Somerset 246 197 83.12 9 Staffordshire 37 26 70.27 0 Suffolk 18 17 94.44 0 Surrey 22 21 95.45 0 Sussex East 21 17 80.95 0 Sussex West 49 44 89.80 0 Tyne and Wear 1 1 100.00 0 Warwickshire 21 19 90.48 0 Wiltshire 121 86 71.67 1 Yorkshire North 98 86 87.76 0 Yorkshire South 6 5 83.33 0 Yorkshire West 14 13 92.86 0 182W 183W
Number of suspect BSE animals slaughtered April 1991 County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE confirmed Number pending Avon 46 36 80.00 1 Bedfordshire 8 7 87.50 0 Berkshire 7 6 85.71 0 Buckinghamshire 21 19 90.48 0 Cambridgeshire 3 1 33.33 0 Cheshire 85 70 83.33 1 Clwyd 35 25 78.13 3 Cornwall 174 144 82.76 0 Cumbria 50 44 88.00 0 Derbyshire 40 36 90.00 0 Devon 239 208 87.03 0 Dorset 185 159 86.41 1 Durham 9 7 77.78 0 Dyfed 118 101 85.59 0 Essex 18 14 82.35 1 Mid Glamorgan 6 5 83.33 0 West Glamorgan 2 1 50.00 0
County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE confirmed Number pending South Glamorgan 9 9 100.00 0 Gloucestershire 65 48 75.00 1 Gwent 13 11 84.62 0 Gwynedd 8 8 100.00 0 Hampshire 105 86 81.90 0 Hereford and Worcester 33 26 81.25 1 Hertfordshire 8 7 87.50 0 Humberside 9 8 88.89 0 Isle of Wight 18 15 83.33 0 Kent 34 31 91.18 0 Lancashire 56 43 76.79 0 Leicestershire 52 48 92.31 0 Lincolnshire 19 17 89.47 0 London 3 3 100.00 0 Manchester 7 3 42.86 0 Norfolk 60 52 86.67 0 Northamptonshire 29 27 93.10 0 Northumberland 7 3 42.86 0 Nottinghamshire 6 6 100.00 0 Oxfordshire 29 24 85.71 1 Powys 22 16 72.73 0 Shropshire 40 36 90.00 0 Somerset 229 178 80.18 7 Staffordshire 38 32 86.49 1 Suffolk 20 17 85.00 0 Surrey 16 15 93.75 0 East Sussex 30 25 83.33 0 West Sussex 52 39 75.00 0 Warwickshire 24 20 83.33 0 Wiltshire 142 102 73.38 3 North Yorkshire 77 62 80.52 0 South Yorkshire 5 5 100.00 0 West Yorkshire 10 9 90.00 0 Cleveland 5 5 100.00 0 West Midlands 1 1 100.00 0 184W 185W
Number of suspect BSE animals slaughtered May 1991 County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE confirmed Number pending Avon 54 37 72.55 3 Bedfordshire 4 4 100.00 0 Berkshire 13 10 83.33 1 Buckinghamshire 15 13 92.86 1 Cambridgeshire 11 8 72.73 0 Cheshire 70 59 84.29 0 Cleveland 3 3 100.00 0 Clwyd 19 14 82.35 2 Cornwall 147 115 78.23 0 Cumbria 54 51 94.44 0 Derbyshire 37 32 86.49 0 Devon 180 149 83.71 2 Dorset 141 117 84.78 3 Durham 5 4 80.00 0 Dyfed 93 75 80.65 0 Essex 9 7 77.78 0 South Glamorgan 4 4 100.00 0 West Glamorgan 2 1 50.00 0 Gloucestershire 46 37 80.43 0 Gwent 11 9 81.82 0 Gwynedd 3 1 33.33 0 Hampshire 57 48 84.21 0 Hereford and Worcester 28 22 78.57 0 Hertfordshire 7 7 100.00 0 Humberside 8 4 57.14 1 Isle of Wight 10 7 70.00 0 Kent 37 35 97.22 1 Lancashire 46 35 77.78 1 Leicestershire 41 41 100.00 0 Lincolnshire 10 9 90.00 0 Manchester 3 2 66.67 0 Norfolk 35 34 97.14 0 Northamptonshire 20 18 90.00 0 Northumberland 13 12 92.31 0 Nottinghamshire 8 8 100.00 0
County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE confirmed Number pending Oxon 35 29 82.86 0 Powys 29 21 72.41 0 Salop 32 28 87.50 0 Somerset 208 155 78.28 10 Staffordshire 32 30 93.75 0 Suffolk 22 17 85.00 2 Surrey 13 12 92.31 0 Sussex, East 28 23 82.14 0 Sussex, West 30 23 79.31 1 Warwickshire 17 14 82.35 0 Wiltshire 117 90 77.59 1 Yorkshire, North 68 52 80.00 3 Yorkshire, South 5 5 100.00 0 Yorkshire, West 9 8 88.89 0 186W 187W
Number of suspect BSE animals slaughtered June 1991 County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage + VE com-firmed Number pending Avon 44 24 68.57 9 Bedfordshire 8 7 87.50 0 Berkshire 8 8 100.00 0 Buckinghamshire 14 13 92.86 0 Cambridgeshire 5 4 80.00 0 Cheshire 72 62 86.11 0 Cleveland 2 1 50.00 0 Clwyd 37 25 86.21 8 Cornwall 161 129 80.63 1 Cumbria 33 29 87.88 0 Derbyshire 24 22 91.67 0 Devon 172 156 90.70 0 Dorset 125 108 88.52 3 Durham 4 4 100.00 0 Dyfed 95 82 86.32 0 Essex 10 7 87.50 2 South Glamorgan 7 6 85.71 0 West Glamorgan 3 1 33.33 0 Mid Glamorgan 4 3 75.00 0 Gloucestershire 32 28 90.32 1 Gwent 13 11 84.62 0 Gwynedd 4 3 75.00 0 Hampshire 38 33 86.84 0 Hereford and Worcester 28 23 82.14 0 Hertfordshire 6 6 100.00 0 Humberside 10 7 87.50 2 Isle of Wight 10 6 60.00 0 Kent 16 16 100.00 0 Lancashire 39 33 84.62 0 Leicestershire 39 35 94.59 2 Lincolnshire 11 10 100.00 1 Manchester 1 0 0.00 0 Norfolk 26 24 92.31 0 Northamptonshire 15 10 66.67 0 Northumberland 9 6 66.67 0 Nottinghamshire 4 4 100.00 0 Oxfordshire 32 28 87.50 0 Powys 16 12 75.00 0 Shropshire 49 35 71.43 0 Somerset 188 133 76.00 13 Staffordshire 41 33 80.49 0 Suffolk 16 14 87.50 0 Surrey 10 8 88.89 1 Sussex East 20 19 95.00 0 Sussex West 38 34 89.47 0 Warwickshire 17 16 94.12 0 Wiltshire 110 88 80.73 1 Yorkshire North 50 41 85.42 2 Yorkshire South 3 3 100.00 0 Yorkshire West 5 5 100.00 0 London 1 1 100.00 0 Merseyside 2 2 100.00 0
Number of suspect BSE animals slaughtered July 1991 County Total slaughtered Number + VE confirmed Percentage+ VE confirmed Number pending Avon 42 29 78.38 5 Bedfordshire 3 3 100.00 0 Berkshire 9 7 87.50 1 Buckinghamshire 26 24 96.00 1 Cambridgeshire 5 5 100.00 0 Cheshire 84 71 93.42 8 Cleveland 2 2 100.00 0 Clwyd 43 28 93.33 13 Cornwall 158 133 84.71 1 Cumbria 70 62 88.57 0 Derbyshire 29 27 93.10 0 Devon 187 171 91.44 0 Dorset 126 115 91.27 0 Durham 3 3 100.00 0 Dyfed 106 92 86.79 0 Essex 11 9 100.00 2 South Glamorgan 4 4 100.00 0 Gloucestershire 43 36 85.71 1 Gwent 16 15 93.75 0 Gwynedd 8 6 75.00 0 Hampshire 46 42 95.45 2 Hereford and Worcester 33 31 93.94 0 Hertfordshire 3 2 66.67 0 Humberside 12 12 100.00 0 Isle of Wight 22 8 42.11 3 Kent 34 30 90.91 1 Lancashire 59 48 81.36 0 Leicestershire 48 47 97.92 0 Lincolnshire 22 20 90.91 0 Manchester 1 0 0.00 0 Norfolk 58 49 92.45 5 Northamptonshire 22 18 85.71 1 Northumberland 7 3 50.00 1 Nottinghamshire 11 11 100.00 0 Oxfordshire 28 23 92.00 3 Powys 18 1 61.11 0 Shropshire 43 37 86.05 0 Somerset 215 155 78.68 18 Staffordshire 45 42 93.33 0 Suffolk 14 13 92.86 0 Surrey 9 9 100.00 0 Sussex East 28 24 85.71 0 Sussex West 40 33 82.50 0 Warwickshire 18 17 100.00 1 Wiltshire 85 71 84.52 1 Yorkshire North 77 51 70.83 5 Yorkshire South 8 7 87.50 0 Yorkshire West 17 16 94.12 0 London 1 1 100.00 0 Merseyside 2 1 100.00 1