§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information his Department has concerning the infection of humans with brucellosis, or tuberculosis through the consumption of green top milk;
(2) what information his Department has concerning the incidence of brucellosis in humans.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeDuring the ten year period 1978 to 1987, 244 cases of brucellosis in humans were reported by laboratories in England and Wales to the public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre. A total of 146 of these were presumed to have contracted their infection in the United Kingdom and the number of these indigenous cases over the decade declined from 34 in 1978 to eight in 1987.
Of the 146 presumed indigenous cases of brucellosis referred to, seven were known to have consumed raw milk, and the most recent of these was in 1982.
We have no information available on cases of bovine tuberculosis possibly connected with the consumption of unpasteurised milk.