§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to fund research into the possible connection between the consumption of milk and Crohn's Disease; and if he will make a statement. [57671]
§ Ms JowellThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is funding a study of the microbiological quality of raw and pasteurised cows' milk. This study will include examination of samples for the presence ofMycobacterium paratuberculosis which has been suggested as a possible factor in the aetiology of Crohn's disease. The Medical Research Council recently agreed to set up an expert sub-group to steer and monitor the Council's research into various aspects of inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Crohn's Disease have been registered during each of the past five years, indicating the age distribution of such cases. [57672]
621W
§ Ms JowellThere are no national figures on the incidence of Crohn's disease in the United Kingdom; however, data obtained for 20 centres throughout Europe in 1991–1993 indicate that the incidence of Crohn's disease (the rate at which people are diagnosed annually) is approximately 5 per 100,000 of population.
The number affected at any one time in the UK is about 50 per 100,000 (British Society of Gastroenterology, September 1996).
Crohn's disease occurs in all age groups although most commonly in young adults.