§ Mr. Merchantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many reported cases of Reye's syndrome there have been in each of the years 1981 to 1985.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe following figures of reported cases of Reye's syndrome have been obtained from the communicable disease surveillance centre, which since August 1981 has run a surveillance scheme jointly with the388W British Paediatric Association. The cases are those which meet either the clinical and biochemical or the histological criteria as used in their case definition for Reye's syndrome.
The figures may not agree with those quoted in the reply given by my hon. Friend, the Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten) to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) on 5 June 1985 at column 186 as there can be a considerable interval between the onset and the reporting of the disease. In particular, figures for the most recent year will be incomplete because cases continue to be reported.
Number of cases reported to BPA—CDSC Reye's Syndrome Surveillance Scheme 1981–1985 England and Wales Year Number *1981 11 1982 34 1983 40 1984 48 1985 26 * August-December