§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer of 22 JuneOfficial Report, column 168 what assessment she has made of the risk to humans posed by bovine immunodeficiency virus.
§ Mr. SoamesBovine immunodeficiency-like virus, which was first identified in 1969, is one of a group of viruses that make up the lentivirus—slow virus—group. There is no evidence that it affects humans whether through contact with animals, drinking milk or eating meat. Experimental efforts to grow the virus in human cells have failed. Two United States laboratory personnel who had accidentally had needle stick injuries with BIV-infected cell culture material some five years ago have shown no signs of illness. Cattle with BIV antibodies have been identified in a number of countries and the virus is thought to have a worldwide distribution. No country as far as we are aware has considered it necessary to impose restrictions on known positive cattle herds in order either to protect the public or to prevent spread to other herds. It is characteristic of the lentiviruses to be highly species specific and it is important to note that mankind for generations has been in contact with horses, sheep, goats and cats many of which will have been infected with lentiviruses.