§ Mr. PlaskittTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the UK are known to be infected by toxoplasma gondii; how many reported deaths from toxoplasma gondii infection there have been in each of the last five years; and what research is being sponsored by the Department into the causes and treatment of toxoplasma gondii. [61146]
557W
§ Ms BlearsThere is no current data available on the number of people known to be infected with toxoplasma gondii, as toxoplasmosis, the infection associated with toxoplasma gondii, is not a disease reportable under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988. However, the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) has received the following confirmed laboratory reports for Toxoplasma gondii in England and Wales for the years 1999 to 2001:
Year Number 1999 610 2000 662 2001 551 The numbers of deaths from toxoplasma gondii infection are not known, as the Office for National Statistics does not collect these statistics.
There are two projects on the causes and treatment of toxoplasma gondii currently sponsored by the Department. These are:
Use of neonatal blood spots for HIV and toxoplasmosis screening. Dr. H. Wilcox, St. Helier Hospital, Surrey, EnglandGENET-EMSCOT: A study of genetic susceptibility in congenital toxoplasmosis. Dr. R. E. Gilbert, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.