asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of dysentery have been recorded during the last five years in the west midlands region; and what proportion of the number of cases on a national level these represent.
The information is shown in the table.
| Number of notifications of dysentery in the West Midlands region and England and Wales, with West Midlands as a percentage of England and Wales, 1980 to 1984* | |||
| Year | Wes Midlands | England and Wales | Per cent. |
| 1980 | 457 | 2,709 | 16·9 |
| 1981 | 446 | 3,401 | 13·1 |
| 1982 | 749 | 2,850 | 26·3 |
| 1983 | 395 | 5,004 | 7·9 |
| 1984* | 563 | 7,697 | 7·3 |
| * Provisional figures. | |||
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to combat the increase in the level of dysentery cases in the north of England; and what resources he will make available to northern district and regional health authorities to improve hygiene standards on housing estates in those areas worst affected.
Higher levels of incidence of dysentery have been reported from two locations in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. Experts in infectious diseases from the Government financed communicable disease surveillance centre (CDSC) have been in touch with the medical officers for environmental health who have responsibility for infectious disease control in these locations and have offered advice and guidance on control measures as appropriate. The CDSC is continuing to monitor the situation.
High standards of personal hygiene, including adequate handwashing with normal soap and water, is the key to the control of dysentery.