§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which countries the virus of foot-and-mouth disease identical to the outbreak in the United Kingdom flourishes; and whether the virus can be carried and passed on by human beings.
Mr. Pearl:Type 0.1 virus has been recognised in the following countries:
Europe
- Spain.
- Hungary.
- Rumania.
- Austria.
- Switzerland.
- Germany.
- France.
- Holland.
- Belgium.
- Denmark.
- Greece.
- United Kingdom.
It is reported by the Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Centre to be prevalent in South America:
- Israel.
- Turkey.
- Syria.
- Russia.
Human beings can occasionally become infected, but the infection is short-lived and there is no evidence that they can become "carriers" of the disease. They can, of course, be involved in the mechanical transmission of the disease.
§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the result of his inquiries into the source of the cause of the present epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peart:My officers are still inquiring into the source of the cause of the present epidemic and I will make a statement in due course.