HL Deb 07 February 1994 vol 551 c110WA
Lord Wilberforce

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (a) how many reported cases of Lyme disease occurred in England and Wales in 1992 and (if figures are available) 1993:
  2. (b) which hospitals offer specialist diagnosis and treatment of this disease, and
  3. (c) whether research is being conducted into the possibility of a cure for this disease.

Baroness Cumberlege

The number of laboratory reports of serologically diagnosed cases of infections in England and Wales are:

Number
1992 217
11993 344
1Provisional.
2At least 5 of these were probably imported infections.
3At least 6 of these were probably imported infections.

The Public Health Laboratory Service's reference units for Lyme disease are based at Hereford and Southampton. The Department of Microbiology at Charing Cross Hospital also offers a diagnostic facility. Infectious disease units at other hospitals are also equipped to deal with the disease, which does not always require specialised treatment.

There is a considerable amount of research into Lyme disease, including treatments, although the disease responds well to antibiotics.