Colonel BURNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture how 650W many cases of rabies have been reported in the last week for which statistics are available; and have any cases been reported as to human beings since the Muzzling Order?
Sir A. BOSCAWENTwenty-one suspected cases of rabies were reported to the Board during the week ending 5 p.m. on the 11th inst. During the same period three suspected cases were confirmed. The last part of the question should have been addressed to the Ministry of Health, but the Board have no information that any case of hydrophobia has developed in human beings during the present outbreaks of rabies in this country.
Major DAVID DAVIESasked the Minister of Health how many persons have been bitten by dogs suffering from rabies; how many of these persons have undergone the Pasteur treatment; and what steps will be taken by the Ministry of Health to stamp out this disease?
§ Dr. ADDISONOf the ninety-eight persons bitten since September last in this country by dogs known to be rabid, several cases were found to be of a nature not to require treatment, and sixty-one received specific anti-rabie treatment. In reply to the concluding paragraph of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that the disease is primarily one of dogs, and that questions in regard to rabies in dogs should be addressed to the Board of Agriculture. As regards human beings, the Local Government Board and now the Ministry of Health have adopted many active measures for coping effectively with this evil, including new arrangements for making in this country for the first time and distributing freely, the material for what is known as the Pasteur treatment, for which persons have previously had to go to Paris. We have established seven centres for the treatment of cases in different parts of England and Wales. Full particulars are given in leaflets that are widely distributed, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
Major DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether local authorities forward returns of the number of stray dogs taken and destroyed in their respective areas; and whether he is able to give the figures during the last six months of the number of stray dogs destroyed in areas which 651W have been scheduled by the Board of Agriculture as being areas infected with rabies?
§ Mr. SHORTTReturns are not sent in by the police authorities of the number of stray dogs seized and destroyed, and I regret, therefore, that I am not able to give the hon. and gallant Member the information asked for in the last part of the question.