Austin Deasy
Question:97 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children if the incidence of AIDS is increasing or decreasing; and the primary causes of this disease in this country. [9946/00]
Written Answers. - HIV Infection.
The number of AIDS cases reported to the Department over the past number of years is as follows:
|
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
|
67 |
55 |
79 |
32 |
41 |
41 |
The breakdown by risk category of AIDS cases up to December 1999 is as follows:
|
Cases – 691 |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
Homosexuals/Bisexuals |
237 |
237 |
|
|
IV Drug users |
211 |
69 |
280 |
|
Homo/Bisexual/IVDU |
10 |
10 |
|
|
Haemophiliacs |
33 |
33 |
|
|
Heterosexuals |
48 |
44 |
92 |
|
Children born to IV drug users |
7 |
7 |
14 |
|
Other children |
1 |
8 |
9 |
|
Undetermined |
9 |
4 |
13 |
|
Transfusion Recipient |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Total |
558 |
133 |
691 |
The overall incidence of AIDS is decreasing. However, national figures are small so we must be careful not to make assumptions based on figures in any given year. Figures indicate that there is a general downward trend in relation to the number of cases of AIDS, which is at least partly due to the use of effective antiretroviral treatments. These treatments slow down the progression of HIV, hence people infected with HIV do not develop AIDS as quickly as before. However, in some cases patients do not respond to the new treatment regimes and therefore we can expect that a number of new cases of AIDS are likely to occur each year.
We must not become complacent about this condition and my Department will continue to give priority to HIV and AIDS through initiatives aimed at preventing people contracting HIV in the first instance. The National AIDS Strategy Committee has undertaken a review of all aspects of HIV-AIDS, and its report with recommendations for action will be published in the coming months.