HC Deb 08 December 1966 vol 737 c355W
Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give particulars of the 10 people whom he records as having died from hydatid disease, and the dates of the years in which they died; and whether or not they were dog owners.

Mr. John Mackie

I am informed by the General Register Office that in 1965 hydatid disease was certified as the primary cause of death in 10 cases in England and Wales, and that from 1956 to 1965 the average number of such cases was 11 a year. I regret that the further information asked for in the last part of the question could not be made available except at undue cost, but in any event I am advised that a human patient must have been infected by a canine animal which must have eaten infested meat.