E. Coli

HC Deb 27 January 1997 vol 289 cc108-9W

Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the incidence of verocytotoxin-producing escherichia coli in each of the last five years by region. [12038]

Mr. Horam

The information for England and Wales is provided in the following table:

Regional incidence of 0157 VTEC in England and Wales: 1992 to 1996
	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Health authority	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
South West Thames	19	0.64	28	0.94	10	0.33	29	0.95	12	0.39
Wessex	20	0.64	16	0.51	32	1.02	76	2.54	27	0.90
Oxford	50	1.94	21	0.81	25	0.97	28	1.08	24	0.93
South Western	29	0.87	29	0.87	35	1.06	89	2.68	83	2.50
West Midlands	44	0.83	56	1.06	46	0.87	106	2.01	57	1.08
Mersey	8	0.33	10	0.41	14	0.58	25	1.04	21	0.87
North Western	64	1.59	35	0.87	36	0.90	63	1.57	64	1.59
Wales	32	1.10	31	1.07	26	0.90	81	2.79	36	1.24
Total	470		385		411		792		660
1. Date from the Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, CPHL
2. Rates expressed per 100,000 using 1992 OPCS figures
3. Since 1995 all diarrhoeal stools are tested for E. coli 0157 by PHIS.