Blood: Diseases

Health written question – answered at on 30 November 2010.

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Photo of Simon Kirby Simon Kirby Conservative, Brighton, Kemptown

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether collaboration takes place between his Department and the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to assess risks posed to public health by climate change-related bloodborne pathogens.

Photo of Anne Milton Anne Milton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The Department of Health collaborates widely on issues related to climate change.

The Government are committed to tackling the effects of climate change on health, which could intensify existing disease burdens and health inequalities.

The Department of Health and the Health Protection Agency jointly published, "Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK 2008" which focused on the quantitative aspects of possible impacts of climate change on health. A copy has already been placed in the Library.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently taking forward a national Climate Change Risk Assessment as required by the Climate Change Act 2008. The project is assessing the key risks and opportunities to the United Kingdom from climate change. Risks from new and emerging pathogens are being considered as part of this assessment. Additionally, the Department's National Expert Panel on New and Emerging Infections keeps the risks to public health from such threats under constant review.

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