Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 2

Written Answers - AIDS Deaths.

Seán Power

Question:

197 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who have died from AIDS in this country since the illness was first identified; the number of people carrying the virus; if this number is increasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10118/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Reporting on HIV/AIDS commenced in 1986 and cumulative statistics are available up to 31 December 1997. The specific information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Number of reported AIDS cases, 609; number of reported deaths from AIDS, 311 and number of HIV positive individuals, 1,850.

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. Policy with regard to testing for HIV, as set out in the National AIDS Strategy Committee report, 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.

It is clear from annual statistics that the number of HIV positive individuals is increasing. Figures indicate that while the rate of increase slowed down between 1992 and 1994 the number presenting positive every year since then has increased steadily by an average of 12 per cent per annum. Statistics on categories of risk indicate that heterosexuals and homosexuals present the biggest risk categories but the heterosexual category has shown the greatest increase since 1994. Reporting on AIDS for 1996 and 1997, however, indicates that there has been a decrease in the number of HIV positives converting to AIDS, from 79 in 1996 to 32 in 1997. Similarly, the number of reported deaths from AIDS also fell from 34 in 1996 to seven in 1997. These two factors may be attributed to the successful treatment of patients with combination therapy drugs which delay progression to AIDS and prolong the life of persons with AIDS.

My Department through the National AIDS Strategy Committee and its subcommittees on care and management, education and prevention, and surveillance continues to implement policy as laid down in the 1992 policy document. These committees meet on a regular basis to consider relevant issues and to develop strategies and implement policy.