§ Mr. Patrick Jenkinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on his plans for dealing with the increase in malaria cases during 1978, in particular the possibility of alerting general practitioners to this as a possible diagnosis.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the concern expressed by Dr. David Warhurst of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at the Tate of deaths from malaria, which was almost unknown 10 years ago or more, 609W what is the reason for this; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe number of cases of malaria reported in the United Kingdom rose in 1977 to 1,527, a 25 per cent. increase on 1976. This was mainly due to 746 cases originating in the Indian subcontinent, a 57 per cent. increase. Seven people died of malaria in 1977 and already four deaths have been reported in 1978. In each case failure to take and continue adequate malaria prophylaxis contributed to the mortality.
My Department has been concerned for some time about the increase in notified malaria. A medical examination immediately on return/arrival in the United Kingdom would not be practicable, as my hon. Friend explained in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for New-ham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 15th February.—[Vol. 944, c. 260–1.] The real need is for increased awareness on the part of persons travelling abroad and of their general practitioners. This is primarily a matter of health education, and my Department's leaflet "Notice to Travellers" together with a Health Education Council leaflet "Advice to Travellers" have been made fully available to travel agents and similar organisations. A recent editorial in the Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners—February 1978, page 67—brought the problem of malaria to the notice of general practitioners, and several postgraduate medical centres in the country have recently included malaria in seminars on imported disease. British Airways have started in-flight announcements regarding malaria prophylaxis and it is hoped that other airlines will follow suit.
Expert assistance with malaria cases can be obtained from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, the Department of Communicable and Tropical Diseases, East Birmingham Hospital, and the Tropical Unit at Liverpool Royal Infirmary.
A full analysis of the pattern of malaria in the United Kingdom in the last five years is currently being undertaken by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.