§ 35. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many confirmed outbreaks of anthrax there have been in Devon and Cornwall in the last three months; what were the comparable figures for the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MackieTwenty-eight outbreaks of anthrax were confirmed in Devon and Cornwall in the three months November, 1964, to January, 1965. The figures for the corresponding period from 1960 onwards are 2, 6, 5 and 1, and the annual totals for those two counties since 1960 have been 5, 34, 17, 10 and 25. The inquiries we have made indicate that the 28 cases referred to are likely to have originated from anthrax contamination in feedingstuffs.
In Great Britain as a whole outbreaks of anthrax have in recent months been occurring in greater numbers than usual and over a wide area. These are now becoming fewer and the indications are that a gradual reduction in incidence will continue. We are still proceeding with the investigations into the justification for further control over imported bones and bone products, which I referred to in the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on 4th December last year.
§ 38. Mr. Onslowasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of anthrax in pigs have been reported in England and Wales during each of the past six months; and how this number compares with the total in the same period during 1963-64.
Mr. MackieThe numbers of outbreaks of anthrax in pigs in England284W and Wales in each of the six months from August, 1964, to January, 1965, were 4, 3, Nil, 12, 32 and 20. The total of 71 for this period compares with a total of 6 for the same period in 1963-64.