§ Ms Rosie WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) undertaken at (i) a local and (ii) a national level into potential clusters at vCJD cases in (A) Queniborough, Leicestershire and (B) Armthorpe, South Yorkshire; [137115]
(2) what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of establishing (a) a standardised protocol and (b) a dedicated core team for the investigations of potential clusters of vCJD. [137116]
§ Yvette CooperThe National CJD Surveillance Unit investigate all cases of vCJD to identify common factors. All possible groupings of cases are being considered. Local health authorities are involved where localised investigations of groups of cases are appropriate. The Department is actively working with scientists from the CJD Surveillance Unit, health care specialists and others to draw up a protocol to investigate all suspected "clusters". One investigation has already been set up into the grouping of cases at Queniborough.