Liam Burke
Question:62 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Health and Children the threat, if any, posed by antibiotic resistant tuberculosis; and the measures, if any, being taken to counteract this threat. [5345/00]
Written Answers. - Tuberculosis Incidence.
Alan Shatter
Question:132 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the threat, if any, posed by anti biotic resistant tuberculosis; and the measures, if any, being taken to counteract this threat. [5598/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 132 together.
A very small proportion of tuberculosis cases diagnosed in Ireland has been identified as drug-resistant. In 1998, resistance was documented in seven cases. None of these cases were multi-drug resistant – MDR.
The report of the working party on tuberculosis, published in 1996, concluded that while, compared to some European countries, drug resistant strains of tuberculosis are rare in Ireland, the potential exists for an increase in this problem.
Following the publication of the report, the national tuberculosis committee was established to oversee its implementation. It continues to keep under review all issues concerning the control and management of tuberculosis and will continue to monitor the prevalence of antibiotic resistant tuberculosis.
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 tuberculosis, and the problem of antimicrobial resistance.