Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 May 1996

Vol. 466 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hepatitis A Outbreak.

Ivor Callely

Question:

72 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the outbreaks of hepatitis A in a number of schools in recent months; if he will give details of these outbreaks; and the action, if any, that has been taken to protect students. [11204/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): To date this year, 181 cases of hepatitis A in the population as a whole have been reported to the Department of Health. The data available under the reporting system do not identify those cases which relate to pupils in schools.

The Department is, however, aware of an outbreak of hepatitis A involving two national schools in Bagenalstown, County Carlow. The outbreak, which started in late December 1995, is also present in the community. The total number of case notified to date is 85, and 40 of these occurred in school children attending Bagenalstown national schools.

The South Eastern Health Board informed parents and teachers, both in writing and at meetings, of the facts relating to the disease and the hygiene control measures required to limit its spread. Appropriate hygiene measures were implemented.

All pupils in the schools were tested for vital antibody levels to determine which children might benefit from immunisation against the disease, and parents were invited to bring those children for immunisation. The majority of the children involved have now been vaccinated.

The outbreak within the two schools appears to be coming under control. However, because of the incubation period of two to six weeks, it will be another month before the health board can be certain that this is the case.