Vol. 513 No. 1
485 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health and Children the proposals, if any, he has to investigate the high incidence of meningitis; the research, if any, he has commissioned on the increased incidence of meningitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1944/00]
The working group on bacterial meningitis, which was established in 1996 under the chairmanship of my Department's deputy chief medical officer and which published reports in 1997 and 1999, includes among its members a range of medical experts who are closely involved in dealing with meningococcal disease in Ireland. The group has prepared and issued detailed advice on the sur veillance, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of meningitis and it continues to monitor developments, including the outcome of research at national and international level, so as to ensure that its advice is in line with best practice.
In recent years surveillance systems in relation to meningitis have been significantly improved. Health boards are required to notify details of cases to my Department within 24 hours of them occurring and these arrangements are operating effectively. My Department has also funded the establishment of the meningococcal reference laboratory at the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, and the diagnostic service provided by this laboratory has had a significant impact on case ascertainment and confirmation of the diagnosis of invasive meningococcal disease. The development of the National Disease Surveillance Centre, which was established in 1998, will enable a much improved level of surveillance of infectious disease in Ireland and the centre will assist in the continued development of strategies to control communicable diseases, including meningitis. The centre has already developed a meningococcal disease database, which will enable the pattern of this disease to be analysed in detail.
I am aware that in recent years research has been undertaken in Ireland on a range of issues in relation to this disease, including whether particular sub-groups within the population may be at particular risk of contracting meningococcal infection, the question of genetic susceptibility to infection, the early management of the acute condition and on the follow-up of surviving children.
All these developments enable the nature of meningococccal disease in Ireland to be better understood, although the reasons for the high incidence of this condition in this country are still not fully apparent.
