Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 6

Written Answers. - Animal Quarantine Procedures.

Bernard Allen

Question:

267 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if there is a national stock of human diploid cell rabies vaccine; if each health board has a supply readily available; and the location of this vaccine in each health board area. [10663/00]

Bernard Allen

Question:

268 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the implications of the lifting of restrictions on animal controls between Ireland and Britain; and procedures he recommends that health boards should put in place in the event of a suspected case of rabies. [10664/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.

The limited change in animal quarantine procedures, recently announced by my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, is not considered to constitute a significant additional risk to public health. Nonetheless, on 10 March, my Department's chief medical officer wrote to the director of public health in each health board, informing them of the change in quarantine procedures and requesting them to ensure that they have appropriate procedures in place in case of a suspected occurrence of the disease. The health boards are statutorily responsible for the control and prevention of infectious diseases in their areas of responsibility.

Stocks of human diploid cell rabies vaccine for national use are held at the National Fever Hospital, Cherry Orchard, Dublin and can be made available at short notice for use in cases where there is a risk that a person may have been exposed to rabies. In addition, my Department has recently asked the Southern Health Board to consider holding a small stock of the vaccine to facilitate more immediate access in the event of it being required in that board's own area or in the adjacent regions.