§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what effect mastitis-infected milk has upon young and old humans; what symptoms the attack displays; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasWhether mastitis-infected milk may affect humans depends on the circumstances. The two main groups of organisms which might affect humans young and old are the staphylococcus group and, secondly, brucella abortus. Both of these can be eliminated by adequate heat treatment of milk. If affected milk is drunk untreated it may result, in the case of certain staphylococcal infections, in an acute and often severe attack of food poisoning with vomiting and prostration which is usually followed by recovery in a day or so. It may result in the second case in brucellosis, an influenzal-like illness which if untreated may lead to chronic ill-health, although recovery is often complete.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what records exist over the last decade in Wales of mastitis-infected milk inducing illness in humans.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI understand that such cases are likely to be rare. I am not aware of any records.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are taken to ensure that mastitis-infected milk is detected at dairy bottling plants before sale to the general public.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasAll milk sent to dairy bottling plants is rendered safe for human consumption by means of heat treatment.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware that in East Flintshire a public health inspector recently found in milk for sale a positive culture of brucellosis, and that the herd 252W supplying the milk for sale was accredited; and what action was taken in this case.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI am aware that a number of Orders are currently in force in East Flintshire prohibiting the sale of milk unless it is heat treated before consumption. These Orders were served by the District Medical Officer of Health concerned because of the isolation of brucella abortus in the milk. I am not aware that an accredited herd is involved in any of these cases; where one is, appropriate disease control measures, including a blood test of the whole herd, are taken by veterinary officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.