§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his responsibilities to the World Health Organisation in relation to typhoid and malaria. [33287]
§ Mr. BowisThe United Kingdom plays a full and active role in the work of the World Health Organisation including help to identify programmes of high priority. Although contributions to the regular programme budget are not associated with a particular programme, the United Kingdom, through the Overseas Development Administration supports WHO's tropical disease research and control of tropical diseases programmes, whose highest priority is malaria. The ODA contributed £2.90 million over the two years 1993–94 and 1994–95.
The responsibilities which fall to the Department of Health under article 19 of the international health regulations for malaria require that we provide annual information about the measures taken to keep airports and their surrounding areas free from malaria-carrying mosquitoes in both their adult and their immature stages.
Article 18 of the regulations require ships and aeroplanes to he "disinsected" if they visit a malarious area. If the port health authorities are not satisfied that such "disinsecting" has been carried out while the ship was abroad visiting another port, they may disinsect the aeroplane or ship.
There are no requirements under the international health regulations that apply to typhoid.