Vol. 466 No. 5
12 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to improve information on meningitis for persons travelling abroad; if he will make it obligatory that all creches keeping children on a short-term basis, such as those at supermarkets, keep a register of names and contact details following the recent meningitis incident at a Dublin store; and the progress, if any, made by his Department on research into meningitis. [11758/96]
Limerick East): I assume that the Deputy is referring to the four cases of meningitis which occurred recently in Majorca. I should point out that a certain number of cases of meningitis will occur anywhere. The four cases were all among visitors, i.e. not necessarily contracted in Majorca bearing in mind the incubation period. The number is not statistically out of line as there were 25 cases in Majorca in 1995. It should also be noted that there would be, on average, six or seven cases in Ireland each week.
On becoming aware of public concern about meningitis in Majorca my Department investigated the situation and was in touch with the Balearic health authorities through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Irish Embassy in Spain and liaised with the disease surveillance centre in the UK. A press statement was issued indicating that the small number of cases could not be regarded as an outbreak and that there was no evidence that the cases were connected. The statement also pointed out that the Department of Health was not advising intending travellers to Majorca to cancel their holidays.
In addition an information leaflet on meningitis is available from the health promotion unit of the Department of Health and from the health boards. During the winter of 1995-96 some 400,000 leaflets were distributed. I am satisfied, therefore, that everything is being done to keep the public informed and should the situation change the public will be informed accordingly.
The position about crèches at supermarkets maintaining a record of names and contact details, is that the supermarket chain involved in the recent meningitis case is now requiring its crèches to keep their records for a period of one month for public health purposes. I am also arranging that this matter be brought to the attention of the working group preparing guidelines on standards in preschool services under Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991.
As regards research the position is that the expert group on meningitis has examined the diagnostic surveillance and preventive aspects of our approach to this disease and is also considering appropriate areas for research into meningitis and will be making recommendations in this regard.
