§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the figures for the incidence of hydatid disease for each area health authority in England and Wales, for the most recent three years that they are available; and what steps she is taking to eradicate this disease.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make additional Government funds available for an education programme in order to alert the public to the dangers of hydatidosis;
(2) how many people have been infected with hydatidosis in each of the past nine years;
(3) what advice she gives to the public regarding the dangers, particularly to children, of contact with dogs fed on uncooked meat and offal.
§ Mr. SackvilleInterim results from a Public Health Laboratory survey of the disease show the following estimated numbers of cases known to have originated in England and Wales, by year of diagnosis:
Numbers 1984 13 1985 26 1986 11 1987 8 1988 7 1989 6 1990 1 Year not known 2 Thirty-nine of these cases were resident in Wales at time of diagnosis and 30 in England. The place of residence of the remaining five is unknown.
The apparent decline in incidence is welcome. When the full results of the PH LS are available, consideration will be given to whether any specific action is called for, such as a public education programme.