§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of illness in Devon have been reported as a result of eating shellfish within the last 12 months; how many of these cases emanated from plants licensed by the Government; and if each case has been notified to the local environmental health officer. [35068]
§ Mr. HoramThe public health laboratory service has received information on two cases of shellfish-related illness in Devon during the past 12 months. For the same period, there were 82 reported cases of illness in England and Wales associated with the consumption of shellfish, of which 70 cases were linked to shellfish originating from harvesting areas or purification plants in and around the south-western region.
Shellfish purification plants are approved by local authority environmental health departments. Environmental health departments would normally be aware of illness linked to plants in their area.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of illness arising from consumption of shellfish have been reported in each of the last five years. [35070]
§ Mr. HoramCases of shellfish-related illness reported to the public health laboratory service were as follows:
- 1991: 244
- 1992: 186
- 1993: 98
- 1994: 104
- 1995: 78.