§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusion he has drawn from the statistics produced by the public health authority on the reduction in salmonella enteritidis infection in layer flocks and the increase in salmonella enteritidis isolations in humans.
§ Mr. MacleanThe reported incidence of salmonella enteritidis, the main target of the Government's control measures, fell by 38 per cent. in laying birds producing eggs for human consumption between 1989 and 1990. While it is too soon to draw firm conclusions, indications are that the comprehensive package of measures introduced by this Department may be having a significant effect on the number of egg laying flocks infected with salmonella enteritidis.
The figures on the number of salmonella enteritidis isolations in humans indicate that there is a continuing public health problem. A number of factors might be involved in the increase in the number of cases between 1989 and 1990. It would therefore be inappropriate to compare directly the human and animal data. This was stressed when the latest PHLS/SVS Update on salmonella infection was published last month.