Written question asked by Lembit Opik (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 20 October 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 October 2005. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Thursday, 3 November 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Brucella Viruses

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases involving humans becoming infected with the (a) brucella melitense virus and (b) brucella suis virus have been reported to her Department in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The number of cases of Brucella melitensis and Brucella species infection diagnosed in humans diagnosed in England and Wales in the past five years is shown in the following table. Laboratory reports of brucella infection received by the Health Protection Agency—formerly the Public Health Laboratory Service Brucella melitensis(13) Brucella species(14) 2000 4 1 2001 6 0 2002 7 0 2003 3 2 2004 9 1 (13) All cases of Brucella Melitensis are either acquired abroad, or result from the consumption of imported products made with unpasteurised milk. (14) Brucella species identified by serology only. Note: No cases of Brucella suis have been reported in England and Wales since records began.

Secondary information