Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 7

Written Answers. - HIV and AIDS Infection.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

88 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the incidence of HIV infection and fullblown AIDS by health board area; the mode of transmission of infection, whether by sexual contact or IV drug abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5955/97]

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

89 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the incidence of HIV and AIDS by community care area in the Eastern Health Board region for each of the past three years; the diagnosed or estimated mode of transmission, whether by sexual contact or IV drug abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5956/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together.

National figures for cases of AIDS and HIV and the mode of transmission of infection are as follows:

Category	31/12/94	31/12/95	31/12/96
Homosexual/Bisexuals	149	165	199
IV Drug Users	190	213	246
Homo/Bisexual/IVDU	8	8	9
Haemophiliacs	28	31	31
Heterosexuals	48	58	69
Children born to IV drug users	9	11	11
Other Children	6	6	6
Undetermined	5	6	6
Total	443	498	577

Of these 577 cases 304 people have died.

Cumulative total of persons with HIV Antibodies (1986 to Date)

Category	Positive Individuals
	1994	1995	1996
Intravenous Drug Users	758	777	797
Children at Risk	107	111	119
Homosexuals	310	343	384
Haemophiliacs	114	114	114
Haemophiliac Contacts	0	1	2
Hosp Staff/Occupational Hazard/Needlestick	0	1	1
*Transfusion	0	0	2
Blood Donors (specimens referred by BTSB)	20	20	25
*Organ Donors	0	0	0
*Visa Requests	1	2	2
*Insurance	1	1	1
*Prisoners	14	16	18
Hetero/Risk Unspecified	209	239	266
Total	1,534	1,625	1,731

Note: This does not include specimens tested in the unlinked anonymous surveillance programme.

The above figures which are produced by the Virus Reference Laboratory relate to categories of persons as identified either by patients themselves or by their clinicians.

*Categorised by site reason rather than risk.

Public information on HIV and AIDS figures is provided on a national basis only. Regional AIDS co-ordinators in each of the health boards provide details of AIDS cases and deaths in their respective health boards to my Department and these are then compiled on a national basis and published every quarter. HIV figures are provided by the Virus Reference Laboratory, which reports to my Department on a regular basis, and these are also published every quarter by my Department.

Based on a recommendation of the Surveillance Sub-Committee of the National AIDS Strategy Committee information is not provided on a regional or health board basis. The number of persons with HIV and AIDS in Ireland is relatively small and if figures were to be provided on this basis the confidentiality of the information might be open to question. This could put the reporting system at risk.