§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to the possibility that the death of 19–year-old Stephen Churchill from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in May could be linked to BSE, what requests he has received for an inquiry into the cause of the death; and what was his response; and if he will make a statement. [152]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee, which provides the Government with independent expert advice on BSE and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, has advised that it is not possible to draw any conclusions in this case about a link with BSE as confirmed cases of CJD have been found in the same age group in other countries before the appearance of BSE. In addition, the case had no reported contact with BSE.
The question of an inquiry into the death of Stephen Churchill was first raised by the press. A number of letters have been received since in connection with the case. In view of the existence of the national CJD surveillance unit, which investigates the incidence and epidemiology 325W of CJD in the UK since the advent of BSE; and of the SEAC, we do not consider that there is a need for an independent inquiry.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is currently undertaking into(a) BSE and (b) Creutzfeldt-Jakob dementia; and if he will make a statement on BSE in the food chain. [1663]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department of Health and the Scottish Office jointly fund the national Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) surveillance unit which investigates the incidence and epidemiology of the disease, paying particular attention to occupation and eating habits, so that any change in the pattern of CJD following the advent of BSE can be detected.
The Department is also funding a series of studies at the Institute of Animal Health into time temperature combinations required to inactivate BSE and scrapie agents.
The Medical Research Council, the main body through which the Government fund medical research in the United Kingdom, receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and is carrying out research into transmissible spongiform encephalopathies aimed at increasing understanding of some of the biological processes involved in such diseases in man.
The independent expert spongiform encephalopathy advisory committee—SEAC—published "Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: A Summary of Present Knowledge and Research" on 7 February 1995. Copies of this report are available in the Library.
There is currently no scientific evidence to link BSE in cattle with the development of CJD in humans. All the information and evidence relating to the possibility of BSE entering the food chain is being looked at by SEAC.