§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the world-wide epidemiology of poliomyelities and international plans to eradicate the disease.
§ Mr. MoyleThe world summary of statistics on poliomyelities published by 141W the World Health Organisation (Weekly Epidemiological Record No. 25 of 24th June 1977 and No. 51 of 23rd December 1977) shows 10,588 cases reported in 1975 and 9,478 cases reported in 1976.
There are no international plans to eradicate this disease but in May 1974 the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on immunisation which, among other things, recommended member States to develop or maintain immunisation and surveillance programmes against poliomyelitis. The United Kingdom supports the World Health Organisation expanded programme of immunisation, which includes immunisation against poliomyelitis, and the United Kingdom has supplied vaccine to other countries.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with his colleagues in other EEC countries about joint plans to combat the rise in the incidence of poliomyelitis; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleAn exchange of views on vaccination and immunisation policies took place between Health Ministers of member States of the EEC during the course of their meeting in Brussels last December. While it was generally felt that decisions on these policies were matters for the individual State, Ministers agreed that the Commission should look into ways of improving provision of information and co-operation between mem-
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976* Belgium 3 2 2 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 Denmark 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 France 112 79 68 81 48 41 29 20 17 9 Germany 54 59 25 15 17 15 29 18 24 38 Ireland 0 2 8 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 Italy 107 90 64 58 20 10 15 5 4 — Luxembourg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Netherlands 2 7 16 2 37 0 2 0 0 — United Kingdom 27 25 28 12 9 10 7 7 7 6 * Provisional. — Information not available
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what treatment is available to people who contract poliomyelitis; what is his estimate of the proportion of children contracting the disease who will become severely handicapped for life; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleAs a result of the Department's immunisation programme very few
142Wber States. To this end a meeting of experts from member States took place on 10th to 11th May 1978. A further meeting is planned.
Although there has been an outbreak in one member State in recent weeks, the statistics generally do not support the statement in the Question that there has been an increase in the incidence of this disease.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the percentage of children vaccinated against poliomyelitis in each EEC country.
§ Mr. MoyleSo far as this country is concerned, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Wanstead and Woodford (Mr. Jenkin) on 8th March.—{Vol. 945, c.705–6.] I regret that the necessary information is not available for other member states.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of reported cases of poliomyelitis in each member country of the EEC in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MoyleThe information provided by the World Health Organisation is as follows:
people now contract poliomyelitis and full treatment is available to them under the National Health Service. In 1977, when notifications of the disease reached the highest level for some years, there were 14 cases of children who became paralysed; but, because their condition may well improve over the years, it is not possible to say how many will be severely handicapped for life.