HC Deb 16 December 1993 vol 234 cc809-10W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action she proposes to monitor the re-emergence in the United Kingdom of previously eliminated diseases, following the free movement of animals;

(2) if she will hold immediate talks with the Minister of Agriculture about methods of preventing the re-emergence of brucellosis in rural constituencies.

Mr. Sackville

Though brucellosis in humans is not a statutorily notifiable disease, there is a laboratory reporting system which receives between 10 and 30 reports each year. The Department works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on all aspects of brucellosis and other diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans including their prevention. This liaison takes full account of all developments including the free movement of animals.