asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state, in respect of each of the years 1937 to 1941 inclusive, (a) the number of cases of tuberculosis of the bovine type notified; (b) the number of deaths registered in which the cause of death was tuberculosis of the bovine type; (c) the number of cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis notified; (d) the number of deaths from non-pulmonary tuberculosis; further, whether he will state, approximately, in respect of each of the years mentioned, the percentage of (a) cases of, and (b) deaths from tuberculosis attributed to (1) human, and (2) bovine infection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine Tuberculosis.
The type of tuberculosis in any particular case can only be determined after careful laboratory test, and at the time of notification of a person suffering from tuberculosis it is not deemed necessary to specify the form of the disease.
In the international list of causes of death which has been adopted in connection with the registration of deaths in this country there is no separate classification of deaths due to tuberculosis of the bovine type.
The number of deaths from non-pulmonary tuberculosis during the years 1937-1941 was as follows: 1937, 785; 1938, 718; 1939, 687; 1940, 778; 1941, 829.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state why, in view of the high incidence of bovine tuberculosis in human beings, there is no separate registration of notifiable cases and deaths from this form of the disease?
I am not aware that such a segregation of deaths and notifications is made in any country. As I stated in the reply, the distinction between cases of human and bovine origin can only be ascertained by lengthy laboratory test, involving the use of animals for experimental purposes. It is obvious that this classification could not at present be carried out.
Is not the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, according to a recognised authority, 30 per cent. of non-pulmonary cases of tuberculosis are due to the bovine bacillus?
That is a different matter.