§ Mr. StevensTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the recent increase in the incidence of meningitis.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe country has been experiencing an upsurge in the number of cases of meningococcal infection similar to one which occurred in the mid-1970s. Notifications have been rising since 1984 and the indication are that there will be some increase this year over last year's figure of 1,090 cases of meningococcal meningitis and 158 deaths from meningococcal infection.
To ensure that doctors and health authorities were fully informed about the situation and were prepared to deal effectively with local outbreaks, Sir Donald Acheson the Government's Chief Medical Officer, wrote to all doctors last year and again early last month when he enclosed a copy of a leaflet produced for parents by Gloucester district health authority. He also sent regional medical officers a check list for management purposes and asked them to inform him of their regional plans to deal with the disease. These were discussed at a meeting held later in the month.
I have arranged for a copy of the letter to all doctors to be placed in the Library.