Written question asked by Robert Jackson (Conservative) on Wednesday, 30 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 12 February 2002. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Tuesday, 12 February 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer of 22nd November 2001 at 375 c410W, upon what estimates on the rate of transmission of the smallpox infection his Department has based its containment strategy. - (Holding answer 5 February 2002).

Answer: Mr. Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 410W, upon what estimates on the rate of transmission of the smallpox infection his Department has based its containment strategy. [33334] Mr. Hutton: [holding answer 5 February 2002]: The Department has commissioned work from the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research regarding transmission rates of smallpox infection. Results of this work were recently published in the scientific journal, Nature. Transmission rates will vary with the particular circumstances of the outbreak of any disease. Estimates of transmission rates range from four to six in a community acquired infection in modern settings, to the higher levels of 10 to 12 in circumstances where the outbreak has taken some time to be fully recognised and appropriate infection controls implemented.

Secondary information