§ Mr. Ancramasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the nine deaths caused by an unidentified virus at Longmore hospital, Edinburgh, over the last week; and what assistance has been given by his Department to help to identify and control the effects of this virus.
§ Mr. FairgrieveI regret that nine elderly patients aged between 71 and 91 have died since 7 April in Longmore hospital, Edinburgh, following an influenza-like illness. A further 10 patients are ill—one seriously—and 10 of the nurses and three of the doctors have similar symptoms.
The wards have been closed to admissions, but visitors are being admitted after explanation of the risk of infection. Virological investigation is in hand and it has already been established 58W in four cases that the virus belongs to the influenza B group. An increased incidence of type B influenza has been reported in Scotland during the past week; in the Lothians, the health board is keeping a watch on the mortality pattern in long-stay units.
It is for the health board to deal with the situation in consultation with the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit, which is responsible for monitoring and advising on the incidence of all communicable diseases in Scotland. My Department is keeping in close touch with health boards generally.