§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a suspected rabid bat in Newhaven recently. [32710]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 13 June 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Staffordshire (Mr. Fabricant) on 11 June 1996, Official Report, column 139.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of bats infected with rabies have been confirmed in England during the past five years; how many were among native populations; and how many were suspected of coming from abroad. [32709]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 13 June 1996]: There has never been a confirmed case of rabies in a bat in England before the case in East Sussex confirmed on 10 June this year.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the species of bat with suspected rabies discovered in Newhaven recently; when the bat was first noticed; by whom; what action was taken; and when it came into the possession of his Department. [32707]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 13 June 1996]: The bat is believed to have been a Daubenton's bat. It was reported to a local bat conservation society by a member of the public in Newhaven in East Sussex as being weak and unable to fly. It was collected by a wildlife ranger on 31 May who took it to the society's premises in Shoreham in West Sussex that day. The bat was euthanased on 3 June following a display of uncharacteristic aggression, a spontaneous abortion and an apparent epileptic fit. The carcass was posted to the Veterinary Laboratory Agency at Addlestone on 4 June and arrived on 5 June. Routine tests were under taken for rabies. Rabies was confirmed on 10 June following positive test results to a fluorescent antibody test and a rapid tissue culture isolation test. The results of a heminested RT-PCR mouse innoculation test are still awaited.
§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what strain of rabies is suspected in the bat discovered in Newhaven recently; if the strain is capable of being passed on to humans; how long it will take to confirm the bat was rabid; and what methods are used to confirm rabies. [32711]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 13 June 1996]: Following positive test results to a fluorescent antibody test and a rapid tissue culture isolation test rabies, European bat lyssavirus strain 2 was confirmed on 10 June. This strain is capable of being passed on to humans. The results of the heminested RT-PCR mouse innoculation test are expected in the week beginning 24 June.
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§ Mr. BanksTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the bat found in Newhaven and suspected of carrying rabies died. [32717]
§ Mrs. Browning[holding answer 13 June 1996]: The bat was euthanased on 3 June.