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 of brucellosis have been recorded by the NHS in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: The information requested is shown in the table. Brucellosis is now a relatively rare human disease in England, following the successful campaign in the 1970s to eradicate Brucella abortus from cattle. Count of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with primary diagnosis brucellosis. Data for all national health service hospitals in England, data years 1999–2000 to 2000–04 FCEs 1999–2000 10 2000–01 15 2001–02 7 2002–03 12 2003–04 19 Note: A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within a year.

Secondary information