Anthrax (Hansard, 14 July 1989)

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any record of anthrax being confirmed in any wild animals during the last 10 years.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Anthrax is not notifiable in animals in the wild and there are no records of cases having occurred in Great Britain.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to determine the cause of the current outbreak of anthrax in Wales;
(2) whether he has any evidence of contaminated animal feed being the cause of the current outbreak of anthrax in Wales.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Detailed epidemiological investigations have been undertaken including attempts to culture anthrax from food hoppers and environmental supplies. All results have been negative.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has concerning the incubation period of anthrax in(a) humans, (b) cattle, (c) sheep and (d) pigs.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The incubation period of anthrax in animals is variable in all species and can range from 24 hours to 14 days. In man, incubation can be up to seven days, and is normally between two and five days.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the current outbreak of anthrax in Wales, he will now introduce a compulsory slaughter and compensation scheme in respect of this disease.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
I have no plans to do so.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of anthrax have been recorded in the United Kingdom in each of the farm animal species during each of the last five years.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The information requested is set out as follows:

1988 3 cattle

1987 6 cattle

1986 12 cattle; 2 sheep; 1 horse

1985 6 cattle

1984 9 cattle