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Viral Diseases

Asked by Joe RobertsonConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 24 February 2025UIN 30326

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 25535 on Viral Diseases, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on the number of cases of (a) flu, (b) covid-19, (c) norovirus and (d) respiratory syncytial virus.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

The Department has no current plans to undertake an assessment of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on the number of flu, COVID-19, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus cases.

The relationship between cold weather and respiratory illness in general, such as exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, is well established in scientific evidence. However, a link from cold snaps, or housing temperature, to respiratory infections does not have the same evidential base.

Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/surveillance-of-influenza-and-other-seasonal-respiratory-viruses-in-the-uk-winter-2023-to-2024/surveillance-of-influenza-and-other-seasonal-respiratory-viruses-in-the-uk-winter-2023-to-2024

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