Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 2

Written Answers - E.coli Incidence.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

244 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of illness due to E.coli 0157 reported in each health board region for each of the years from 1996 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24634/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt)

In my replies to parliamentary questions recently raised by Deputies Ring, Seán Ryan and O'Sullivan, I stated that the records available to my Department at that time indicated four cases of E.coli 0157 during 1997, and three cases during 1998. While these were the figures available to me at that time, there was some concern that they might not be an accurate reflection of the incidences of E.coli 0157 during the period in question. Accordingly, my Department conducted a comprehensive review of this matter with the individual health board.

This review shows that during 1996 eight cases of E.coli 0157 were recorded, 51 cases were recorded during 1997 and 59 cases have been recorded during 1998 to date. A breakdown of these figures by health board region is as follows:

	Number of Cases
	1996	1997	1998
Eastern Health Board	2	15	5
North-Eastern Health Board	0	0	2
North-Western Health Board	0	0	7
Western Health Board	4	6	17
Mid-Western Health Board	0	22	4
Southern Health Board	1	5	14
South-Eastern Health Board	1	2	4
Midland Health Board	0	1	6
Total	8	51	59

Total number of cases for the period 1996 to 1998 (to date) — 118.

I apologise to the Deputies concerned and I regret that my replies understated the real level of E.coli 0157. It is a matter of concern to me that accurate data on this very important matter was not immediately to hand and I have taken steps to ensure that health boards will provide a more comprehensive and regular report on the incidences of E.coli 0157 to my Department.

While all cases of E.coli 0157 infection in Ireland have been sporadic and there have not been epidemics of the infection here, nevertheless, it is imperative that the medical profession, the public and all persons engaged in food preparation are aware of E.coli 0157 and of the simple measures by which infection can be prevented.

My Department has for several years now recognised the potentially serious implications of this infection and has taken steps to increase awareness of it. A report on the matter by the Food Safety Advisory Committee was circulated to all health boards in October 1994 with an instruction that it should be brought to the attention of all officers engaged in food control operations. A reminder to this effect was issued in July 1995. A further reminder was issued in December 1996 to all the directors of public health in the health boards, who were asked to remind doctors and laboratories to be particularly vigilant in reporting cases of food poisoning with a view to identifying any possible case of the E.coli infection.

More recently, following advice from the Food Safety Advisory Board, the health promotion unit of my Department has prepared a leaflet for distribution to the public on this matter. The leaflet advises, in particular, on the importance of properly cooking meat products, on the need to properly wash raw fruit and vegetables before eating and on the importance of observing good food hygiene and personal hygiene practices in order to prevent and control outbreaks of E.coli 0157 infection.

While there is a legal requirement under the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1981-96, to notify cases of food poisoning generally, E.coli 0157 is not specifically notifiable. The recently established National Communicable Disease Surveillance Unit, which will provide a comprehensive broad based approach to the prevention of disease, including foodborne disease, is currently reviewing the whole area of disease notification and E.coli 0157 is being included in this review.

Furthermore, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland has established an E.coli 0157 task force to examine the issue and to advise on the appropriate response in terms of regulation, standards and education for consumers and producers. I understand that this task force will report within a matter of weeks.