HC Deb 12 December 1995 vol 268 cc579-80W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of(a) cholera, (b) typhoid fever, (c) paratyphoid fever, (d) dysentery and (e) food poisoning were notified in each year from 1985 to 1992; [4998]

(2) if he will make a statement on the incidence of (a) typhoid fever, (b) cholera, (c) paratyphoid fever, (d) dysentery and (e) food poisoning in England since 1985; [5000]

(3) what is his estimate of the costs to the NHS resulting from incidents of food poisoning in each year from 1985 to 1995. [4997]

Mr. Horam

The requested information on cholera is shown in the table.

Cholera
Total1
1985 4
1986 5
1987 2
1988 10
1989 1
1990 6
1991 4
1992 9

Notes:

1 Includes cases and symptomless excreters.

Source:

Vibrio Cholera 01 Faecal Isolates England and Wales 1985–1992 DEP LEP confirmed laboratory reports to CDSC.

Information on paratyphoid fever, dysentery and food poisoning are available in OPCS's MB2 "Series Communicable Disease Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library. The latest available publication is series MB2 No. 20 (1993).

The great majority of cases of cholera, typhoid and paratyphoid fever are due to infections acquired abroad.

The rise in dysentery notifications in 1992 was consistent with the secular pattern of upsurges in incidence every seven to eight years, although the number of cases reported in 1992 was much greater than that reported during the previous upsurge.

No such estimate has been made of the costs to the NHS resulting from incidents of food poisoning.

There is no clear explanation for the increase in food poisoning notifications. On 22 October 1993 my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State announced the start of a major study of infectious intestinal diseases in England. The purpose of the study is to establish the incidence, sources, causes and socio-economic costs of infectious intestinal disease. This is the most comprehensive study of its type ever attempted. It will involve 70 general practices and more than 20,000 volunteers. The study will be completed in 1996 with results available in 1997.