Salmonella

HC Deb 10 March 1989 vol 148 cc93-4W

Dr. David Clark

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many laying flocks of chickens have been tested for salmonella in each week since 5 December 1988;

(2) how many breeding flocks of hens have been tested for salmonella in each week since 5 December 1988.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Codes of practice for the control of salmonellae in commercial laying and breeding flocks, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, set out procedures for the bacteriological monitoring of birds by flock owners.

Testing of samples may be carried out either by public or by private bacteriology laboratories. Samples from the following number of flocks were submitted to my Department's veterinary investigation service for testing:

Week beginning	Layers	Breeders	Total
19 December 1988	50	0	50
26 December 1988	8	0	8
2 January 1989	25	0	25
9 January 1989	30	2	32
16 January 1989	26	5	31
23 January 1989	39	5	44
30 January 1989	32	4	36
6 February 1989	35	5	40
13 February 1989	17	1	18
20 February 1989	21	0	21

I have no information on the number of samples submitted to other laboratories.

Sir Eldon Griffiths

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the principal strains of salmonella which can be passed on by carriers or in excreta, indicating in each case which types of animals or birds are most likely to be infected by this particular strain; and what studies he is undertaking in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Health of the risks to health that can arise from these types of infection, as distinct from the salmonella strains identified in poultry and eggs.

Mr. Donald Thompson

There are over 2,000 serotypes of salmonella which can be carried by animals or birds or in excreta. I am arranging for tables giving details of isolations in food animals recorded in Great Britain to be placed in the Library of the House.

A list of current research projects on salmonella which are wholly or partly funded by my Department will also be placed in the Library. Human health research projects are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.