§ Mr. Chris ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the projections of AIDS infections in the United Kingdom undertaken by the communicable diseases surveillance centre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonLast year the communicable diseases surveillance centre published projections for new cases first presenting with symptoms in 1987 and 1988: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 2 July 1987 at column150. These cases would not be expected to be reported to CDSC until some time later.
The number of reported new AIDs cases is at present doubling every 10 months. If this rate continues during the fourth quarter of 1987, the communicable disease surveillance centre expects a total of about 1,270 cases to have been reported by the end of this year. It expects about 1,500 new cases of Aids to be reported in 1988. These cases of course reflect the pattern and rate of spread of HIV infection some years ago; and on present evidence it is not possible to make reliable estimates for later years.
§ Mr. Chris ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what reports have been received from the communicable disease surveillance centre of any British citizen having become HIV positive as a result of(a) needlestick injuries and (b) blood splashes.
§ Mr. NewtonThe communicable diseases surveillance centre (CDSC) has received one report of a nurse who seroconverted following a needlestick injury. However, in this case, a small amount of infected blood may have also been injected. The CDSC has received no reports of anyone becoming HIV positive as a result of being splashed with infected blood.