Vol. 455 No. 8
108 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, the Eastern Health Board took to ascertain the extent of TB at Dublin Zoo in view of the assurances given to the public by the Eastern Health Board; the names, professional standing and qualifications of the officials that visited the Zoo; when such visits took place; the steps, if any, taken by these officials to scientifically evaluate the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13298/95]
Limerick East): The Eastern Health Board has informed me that in July 1995 a member of the public alleged that an animal in the zoo had been diagnosed as having tuberculosis. The board's Director of Public Health contacted the Director of the Zoo and was advised that an orang-utan had recently given a positive reaction to a Tuberculin test, that their vaternity staff were satisfied that the animal had not got active tuberculosis infection and that the advice of an expert from the International Zoo Veterinary Group had also been obtained. The Director of Dublin Zoo further advised that positive or suspicious reactions to tuberculin testing without tuberculosis infection was recognised in an orang-utan and was referred to in the relevant international literature. A copy of the relevant article was supplied to the Director of Public Health.
Before it was established that the animal in question was not infected the Zoo offered screening to all its staff who came into close contact with the orang-utan. The medical adviser to the Zoo informed the Director of Public Health that all the staff in question took up the offer and that nothing was found on such screening that would relate to contact with the animal.
On the basis of the foregoing the Director of Public Health was satisfied that the orang-utan did not, at that time, constitute a risk to the public of tuberculosis infection.
It should be noted that a full range of tests on the same animal, including a tuberculin test, were carried out throughout August on the advice of an international veterinary consultant all of which proved negative.
