§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the sources of his information regarding the number of incidents of salmonella enteritidis-induced food poisoning reported during the first six months of the current year.
§ Mr. FreemanThe sources of information this year (which is less than three months old) are the same as in past years, and are detailed in annex 1 of the public health laboratory service's evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on Agriculture in October 1988.
The sources of information for the routine surveillance of human salmonellosis in England and Wales include:
(i.) reports of human isolates to the PHLS communicable disease surveillance centre (CDSC) from public health and other laboratories;
(i.) referrals of human isolates of salmonellas for detailed identification to the PHLS division of enteric pathogens from public health and other laboratories;
(iii.) laboratory reports of outbreaks to CDSC;
(iv.) local authority reports of outbreaks to CDSC;
(v.) outbreaks ascertained by CDSC by other means and verified.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his assessment of the future trend in outbreaks of food poisoning through the consumption of eggs infected by salmonella enteritidis.
§ Mr. FreemanIt is impossible to predict trends in outbreaks of salmonellosis with any degree of certainty. Early indications, however, from data from the PHLS division of enteric pathogens indicate that the levelling off in total salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 isolates seen last year has been maintained in the early part of this year. There is room for cautious optimism that this trend will continue.