HC Deb 04 December 1995 vol 268 c42W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department was first notified of an outbreak of legionnaire's disease at Kusadasi, Turkey, in 1995; what action was taken and at what time to advise travel agencies operating in the United Kingdom about the outbreak; and what advice has been issued to United Kingdom travellers to Kusadasi, Turkey, since May 1995 about the outbreak of legionnaire's disease associated with the Hotel Imbat. [3273]

Mr. Horam

The Department of Health was informed of five possibly related cases of legionnaire's disease which were known to have occurred in travellers returning from Kusadasi on 16 August and of a sixth case on 21 August 1995. The Turkish authorities were informed, via the British embassy in Turkey, of all cases as they became known. The consular department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Association of British Travel Agents were informed on 23 August. The Federation of Tour Operators was informed of further cases on 29 September 1995. A notice to travellers was issued on the Prestel database on 23 August and updated on 29 September.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action was taken to alert medical agencies in the United Kingdom about an outbreak of legionnaire's disease in Kusadasi, Turkey. [3274]

Mr. Horam

Public health doctors were alerted about cases of legionnaire's disease in travellers returning from Kusadasi, Turkey via the Epinet electronic message system on 23 August and through the public health laboratory service communicable disease reports of 15 September and 6 October.