§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the current number of acquired immune deficiency syndrome sufferers in the United Kingdom; and at what rate this is increasing;
(2) what is the estimated total annual cost to public funds of treating acquired immune deficiency syndrome sufferers in the United Kingdom; and what is the total amount being spent on research into the disease.
§ Mr. NewtonAt the end of September 1986, 512 cases of AIDS in the United Kingdom had been reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre of whom 250 had died. The number of cases has been doubling approximately every 10 months. The Government-funded Medical Research Council is responsible for co-ordinating AIDS research in the United Kingdom. I understand that 15 special project grants have been awarded at a cost of £1.5 million.
I regret that information on the total annual cost to public funds of treating AIDS patients is not available. However, there is some information available on the cost of treating individual AIDS patients and I refer my hon. Friend to my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 17 July at column 612.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any persons have contracted acquired immune deficiency syndrome as the result of treating an acquired immune deficiency syndrome patient.
§ Mr. NewtonNo health care worker is known to have contracted AIDS in the United Kingdom as a result of treating an AIDS patient. One nurse has developed antibodies to the AIDS virus following an accident with a contaminated needle.
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§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of any babies born in the United Kingdom who are (i) acquired immune deficiency syndrome carriers and (ii) suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
§ Mr. NewtonBy the end of September, two cases of babies with AIDS in the United Kingdom had been reported to the communicable disease surveillance centre. There have also been reports of babies who may be infected with the AIDS virus. These cases are unconfirmed and are being investigated.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any persons have received transfused blood contaminated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome virus.
§ Mr. NewtonSince October 1985 the national blood transfusion service has screened all blood donations for
Country 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 to June Approx Rate/100,000 of cumulative totals Austria — — 13 28 36 0.480 Belgium — 38 65 139 171 1.730 Canada 31 84 222 522 699 2.800 Denmark 7 19 37 68 93 1.820 Federal Republic of Germany 11 48 203 377 538 0.880 France — 79 224 573 859 1.560 Greece — 1 6 13 22 0.220 Iceland — — — — 2 1.000 Ireland — — — 8 10 0.280 Italy 1 6 39 140 300 0.520 Japan — — — 11 15 0.010 Luxembourg — — — 3 3 0.750 Netherlands 3 18 48 98 146 1.010 Norway — — 5 17 24 0.570 Portugal — 1 2 18 28 0.270 Spain 3 13 37 83 177 0.460 Sweden — 4 16 42 57 0.690 Switzerland 9 20 44 100 138 2.120 Turkey — — — 2 2 0.004 United Kingdom 3 28 77 287 389 0.690 United States of America 1,329 4,091 9,605 18,947 24,491 10.500