Vector-borne Diseases

Debate between Lord Evans of Rainow and Lord Vaux of Harrowden

Thursday 14th December 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I am most grateful to the noble Lord. I was not aware of what is going on at Imperial College, but it would be very helpful to the world if mosquitoes could stop spreading their diseases.

[Lord Vaux of Harrowden (CB)]

My Lords, vector-borne diseases are not only about humans; they are also about animals. We have a current outbreak of bluetongue disease in the south of England, which is carried by midges originally coming from South Africa. What assessment have the Government made of this particular outbreak?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, I am not aware of the bluetongue outbreak, but the Government do a significant amount of research and checking at ports in the United Kingdom when we import livestock and other things. We monitor that, but I do not know about the specific case of bluetongue and I will write to the noble Lord.