§ 73. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health, in view of the possibility that this country may experience the ravages of the influenza virus which has caused epidemics in Asia, if he will make a statement giving the up-to-date picture of the situation; and, in view of the unsatisfactory experience over anti-poliomyelitis vaccine, if he will state what action is being taken to ensure that the necessary vaccines will be available to deal with the influenza should it come to this country.
§ Mr. VosperThe arrangements for reporting influenza to which I referred in my reply of 5th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) are now in operation. The disease is clinically mild and of short duration. Experimental work on the production of a vaccine is proceeding and the results of tests of its effectiveness are not yet known.