Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 1

Written Answers. - HIV and AIDS Infection.

Ivor Callely

Question:

60 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the latest figures known to his Department in respect of HIV and AIDS; if he has satisfied himself with the accuracy of such figures; the consideration, if any, he has given to compulsory testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6412/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The most recent figures for HIV and AIDS up to 31 December 1996 are as follows:

Revised list of AIDS Cases up to 31 December 1996

Cases — 577
Homosexuals/Bisexuals	199
IV Drug Users	246
Homo/Bisexual/IVDU	9
Haemophiliacs	31
Heterosexuals	69
Children Born to IV Drug Users	11
Other Children	6
Undetermined	6
	577

Of these 577 cases 304 people have died.

HIV antibody results in the virus reference laboratory for December 1996 cumulative total samples tested in the virus reference laboratory for HIV antibodies 1986 to date

Category	Total Tests	Positive Individuals
Intravenous Drug Users
Male	7,406	594
Female	3,134	189
Unknown	120	14
Children at risk	1,809	119
Homosexuals	5,248	384
Haemophiliacs	1,125	114
Haemophiliac Contacts	74	2
Hospital Staff/Occupational Hazard/Needlestick	4,423	1
*Transfusion	458	2
*Blood Donors (specimens referred by BTSB)	3,014	25
*Organ Donors	5,230	0
*Visa Requests	12,340	2
*Insurance	33,880	1
*Prisoners	831	18
Hetero/Risk Unspecified	40,542	266
Total	119,634	1,731

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

Note: 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. 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.

While the system of reporting AIDS cases and deaths is purely voluntary the majority of doctors who deal with AIDS would be aware of the desirability of reporting all such cases. My Department is therefore confident that the available figures give an accurate representation of the extent of the condition and the mortality associated with it.

Policy with regard to testing for HIV, as set out in the National AIDS Strategy Committee Report of 1992 is one of voluntary testing, where people who believe they have put themselves at risk of infection with the virus come forward and following counselling, have a HIV test. My Department has no plans to introduce compulsory testing for HIV.