§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is done with the soil from the pens of kudu at London zoo;
(2) what action is being taken to prevent the transmission of spongiform encephalopathy from kudus at London zoo to other animals and to zoo staff on (a) entering and (b) leaving the kudu pen.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThis Ministry currently has no powers to investigate spongiform encephalopathies in exotic ruminants at London Zoo. Precautions taken to prevent the transmission of spongiform encephalopathy in the zoo are a matter for the London zoo authorities.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will give details of the genetic relationships between the greater kudus at London zoo that have died of a spongiform encephalopathy; and if the genetic relationships between the greater kudus at London zoo indicate that any of the kudu are carriers of a spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThere have been a number of scientific papers published on different aspects of spongiform encephalopathy disease in greater kudu at London zoo. The most recent of these was inThe Veterinary Record of 12 February 1994, while another on 9 October 1993 addressed the familial relationships between the confirmed cases and their dams.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many greater kudu from the London zoo herd have died of a spongiform encephalopathy; and how many of the greater kudu presently at London zoo are suspected to be suffering from a spongiform encephalopathy.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI understand that six greater kudu have developed a spongiform encephalopathy; they are all dead.