HC Deb 25 October 1999 vol 336 cc749-50W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government routinely record the occupation of people in whom infection with bovine tuberculosis is identified. [94536]

Yvette Cooper

Information on the occupation of individuals notified with tuberculosis in England and Wales is sought on the standard notification form. This information is used locally.

Reports of M. Bovis infections are collated by the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre as part of a scheme called in the UK Mycobacterial Resistance Network (Mycobnet). On receipt of a report of M. bovis infection, a questionnaire is sent to the local consultant in communicable disease control inquiring, among other things, about whether the individual had an agricultural occupation (including working on a farm) or other animal contact.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of human tuberculosis and bovine tuberculosis were confirmed in humans in 1997 and 1998. [94535]

Yvette Cooper

A total of 5,859 cases of tuberculosis were notified in England and Wales in 1997 and 6,087 in 1998. 3,229 and 3,456 respectively were microbiologically confirmed. Of these confirmed cases, 29 cases in 1997 were due to M. bovis infection and 32 cases in 1998.