§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reports he has received from Bro Taf health authority and university of Wales, Cardiff, concerning the outbreak of meningitis last year; and if he will make a statement. [14500]
§ Mr. HagueI have received reports from the Bro Taf health authority and the university of Wales, which I am making available in the Library. My officials will discuss the details of the reports with the health authority and the university, including in connection with the health authority report the response of general practitioners to the outbreak.
The university's report records the action taken by the university authorities during the outbreak. It also contains brief details of complaints received by the university concerning communication with students. Like that of the health authority, the university's report identifies lessons to be learned. I endorse the proposals for action, including a joint workshop with the health authority, and would wish to receive a report of its conclusions in due course.
The report of the health authority outbreak control team has been prepared at my request in accordance with the requirement for a report to the chief medical officer on any serious outbreak of infectious disease. It records the actions taken to identify and alert those at risk from infection, and to prevent further spread of the infection among residents of University hall. I am satisfied that these actions were in accordance with the then current advice on good practice provided by the public health laboratory service meningococcus working group. It describes the epidemiological investigation undertaken to identify the type of meningococcal infection. The action taken to provide information to the students, university authorities and general practitioners is also described.
In its conclusions the health authority's report outlines the particular features of this outbreak and addresses the criticism that has been made of apparent delay in recognising and declaring an outbreak. It recommends that the public health laboratory service meningococcus working group considers the need for revision of the guidelines of the control of meningococcal outbreaks in 593W the university residential setting. It also recommends that the implications of the epidemiological investigation be considered by the working group.
Finally, the report recommends that the health authority reviews the communication arrangements in the light of the experience of this outbreak. I accept these recommendations and, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, am pleased that the public health laboratory service meningococcus working group has already reviewed its guidelines for outbreak control in single educational establishments. Revised guidelines were published in the communicable disease review of 10 January. In order to ensure that the full implications of this outbreak are properly considered and appropriate action is taken, I am requiring a further immediate review to take account of the findings of these two reports.