§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of meningitis there have been in the last six months; what was the figure for the equivalent period last year; and to what factors he attributes the change.
§ Mr. DorrellThe table shows the overall figures for both meningitis and meningococcal meningitis.
623W
Notifications reported to OPCS—England and Wales (All data are provisional) Last 6 months 1990 Last 6 months 1989 Meningitis (all forms) 1,105 1,194 Meningococcal meningitis 369 470 Deaths1 55 96 1 Deaths assigned to meningococcal infection. It is not yet clear whether the small decline in numbers represents a new trend, reversing the upsurge which began in 1986, nor to what it might be attributable. The position is being monitored closely.