Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1997

Vol. 475 No. 1

Written Answers. - Meningitis Cases.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

33 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of meningitis in the past six months; the progress, if any, made on establishing a national communicable disease surveillance centre; and the resources he is investing in publicising and tackling meningitis. [4354/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The number of cases of bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal septicaemia, notified to my Department in the period 1 August 1996 to 31 January 1997 was 213. The number of cases of viral meningitis notified during the same period was 45.

The steps which have been taken to raise awareness of meningitis include an interview given by me to the national media to alert parents, the public at large and doctors of the importance of being extra vigilant for meningitis. Press Facts on Meningitis were issued to the national media. My Department's Health Promotion Unit distributed a revised meningitis leaflet to the health boards and a new leaflet for general practitioners has also been distributed to the health boards. The Health Promotion Unit is also providing financial assistance for the production of a meningitis leaflet by the Union of Students in Ireland and the Meningitis Research Foundation.

At the beginning of this winter the chief medical officer of my Department wrote to the directors of public health, on my behalf, requesting them to take all necessary measures to ensure that the highest possible level of awareness among professionals, parents and the wider public was maintained especially during the winter months. The directors were also asked to circulate the Press Facts on Meningitis to the provincial media and to consider what additional public information initiatives were required and decide what specific measures need to be taken in their areas. In addition health boards were requested to liaise with parental groups working to raise awareness of meningitis to facilitate a co-ordinated approach. Health professionals have also given interviews both on national and local radio.

I accept that there is a need for a national communicable disease surveillance unit to provide a comprehensive broad based approach to the prevention of disease. The Department of Health is currently considering the organisational and structural issues involved in conjunction with the relevant agencies and professional interests.