Mr. WEST RUSSELLasked the Minister of Health the number of cases of psittacosis reported during the present year; the number of these which have been fatal; and whether he is satisfied that adequate steps have been taken to deal with this matter?
§ Miss LAWRENCEInformation has been received in the Ministry of Health of 80 cases of illness which commenced during the present year and in which the patients had been associated with sick parrots. Thirteen of these cases proved fatal. It is not possible for my right hon. Friend to say definitely how many of these persons were, in fact, suffering from psittacosis, but in nine of the fatal cases psittacosis appeared on the death certificate as a cause of death. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.