John Bruton
Question:221 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the growth in the number of reported cases of e.coli 0157 from eight cases in 1996 to 76 cases in 1998. [6689/99]
Written Answers. - E.coli Incidence.
I presume the Deputy is referring to e.coli 0157. In 1995-96 new departments of public health were established in each health board. The new specialists in public health identified as a priority the need to improve collaboration and communication between microbiologists, environmental health officers and the new public health departments. In late 1996, the specialists requested all laboratories to inform public health departments of detected cases of e.coli 0157. The criteria employed by laboratories to test for e.coli 0157 were expanded and the introduction of newer techniques of culture enrichment and immunomagnetic systems dramatically improved the sensitivity of isolation, and the use of sero diagnostic studies in outbreaks improved the detection of infection by testing for antibodies to e.coli 0157.
These technological and administrative devel opments have contributed to an increase in the number of e.coli 0157 cases reported from eight in 1996, 31 in 1997 and 76 in 1998. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has established an e.coli 0157 task force to advise on the appropriate response to the increase in the number of reported cases of e.coli 0157 in terms of regulation, standards and education for consumers and producers. I understand that its report is currently being finalised and will be available in the near future.
As indicated in previous replies, the recently established National Communicable Disease Surveillance Unit, which will provide a comprehensive broad based approach to the prevention of disease, including foodborne disease, will participate in a review this year in the whole area of disease notification, and e.coli 0157 is being included in this review.