Toxoplasmosis
(asked on 13th March 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the percentage people (1) 0–16 years old, (2) 17–30 years old, (3) 31–40 years old, (4) 41–50 years old, and (5) more than 51 years old, are affected by (a) toxoplasmosis, and (b) ocular toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasmosis is not a notifiable disease in England. However, since April 2025, laboratories are required to notify the detection of toxoplasma associated with congenital toxoplasmosis under amendments to the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations. Current national toxoplasmosis surveillance is limited to samples referred to the Toxoplasma Reference Unit (TRU). Toxoplasmosis surveillance data is published annually by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Data for ocular toxoplasmosis is not routinely collected by UKHSA.
Data is not held in the format requested as it is reported by broader age groups, and this is shown below, and can also be found in the annual report available online. The data below will be an underestimate of national figures due to toxoplasmosis not being a notifiable disease, and the use of TRU reported cases only.
The following table shows the number of laboratory confirmed cases of toxoplasmosis in England by age group and sex, for 2024:
Age group in years | Male | Female | Unknown | Total |
Under 14 | 8 (4.0%) | 6 (3.0%) | 1 (0.5%) | 15 (7.6%) |
15 to 24 | 8 (4.0%) | 13 (6.6%) | 2 (1.0%) | 23 (11.6%) |
25 to 34 | 17 (8.6%) | 45 (22.7%) | 0 (0%) | 62 (31.3%) |
35 to 44 | 15 (7.6%) | 23 (11.6%) | 0 (0%) | 38 (19.2%) |
45 to 54 | 10 (5.1%) | 13 (6.6%) | 0 (0%) | 23 (11.6%) |
55 to 64 | 6 (3.0%) | 9 (4.5%) | 1 (0.5%) | 16 (8.1%) |
65 to 74 | 6 (3.0%) | 4 (2.0%) | 0 (0%) | 10 (5.1%) |
Over 75 | 4 (2.0%) | 3 (1.5%) | 0 (0%) | 7 (3.5%) |
Unknown | 0 (0%) | 2 (1.0%) | 2 (1.0%) | 4 (2.0%) |
Total | 74 (37.4%) | 118 (59.6%) | 6 (3.0%) | 198 (100% |
Work is currently ongoing within UKHSA to review and update toxoplasmosis surveillance processes in England.