John Gormley
Question:222 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of measles cases during 2000 which were in babies under 15 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9525/01]
Written Answers. - Measles Incidence.
John Gormley
Question:223 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he can supply figures on the MMR status, whether vaccinated or not, for measles cases known during the year 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9526/01]
John Gormley
Question:224 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of measles cases in 2000 which were serologically confirmed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9527/01]
John Gormley
Question:225 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of measles cases in 2000 which were hospitalised; the most common complication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9528/01]
John Gormley
Question:226 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if, of the hospitalised cases of measles in 2000, he will say the number which were in babies under 15 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/01]
John Gormley
Question:227 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of the hospitalised cases of measles in 2000 which were in babies that were completely unvaccinated, that is, they had not received early vaccinations DPT/Hib/Polio/Meningitis C; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9530/01]
John Gormley
Question:228 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of the hospitalised cases of measles above 15 months of age in children who had received one dose of the MMR; two or more doses of MMR; the percentage who had received no vaccines at all, that is MMR/DPT/Hib/Polio/Meningitis C; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9531/01]
John Gormley
Question:229 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hospitalised measles cases which required intensive care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9532/01]
John Gormley
Question:230 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of intensive care cases for measles in this country in the year 2000 which were under 15 months old, over 15 months old and vaccinated with at least one dose of MMR, or totally unvaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9533/01]
John Gormley
Question:231 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases of measles in 2000 which were acquired nosocomially. [9534/01]
John Gormley
Question:238 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has annual figures of measles notifications from 1982 to date; the percentage which were serologically confirmed; if he has data on the immunisation status of all these notifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9541/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 231, inclusive, and 238 together.
At the outset I would like to point out that measles is a highly infectious disease. It is not a trivial illness. Approximately one in 15 children with measles suffer serious complications. Serious cases require urgent hospitalisation where the average length of stay ranges from five to ten days. Common complications include pneumonia, diarrhoea, croup, malnutrition, otitis media, mouth ulcers and eye complications. Less common complications include acute encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, which may result in permanent brain damage or death. Sub-acute sclerosing panencephalitis, SSPE, is a severe complication of measles, usually ocurring years after the infection and which may cause progressive brain degeneration leading to intellectual impairment, seizures and eventually death.
My Department has requested information from the health boards on the issues raised by the Deputy. In the time available the Eastern Regional Health Authority has not provided any information. The other boards have responded, however, all the requested information has not been provided. My Department will write to the boards regarding the outstanding information and this will be provided to the Deputy when it is received.
The information provided by the health boards is as follows:
Measles in babies under 15 months – 2000
|
Health Board |
2000 – No. of cases |
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
|
|
Midland Health Board |
not yet available |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
4 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
15 |
|
North-Western Health Board |
10 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
40 |
|
Southern Health Board |
39 |
|
Western Health Board |
15 |
MMR status; all cases – 2000
|
HealthBoard |
vaccinated |
not vaccinated |
unknown |
|
ERHA |
|||
|
MHB |
not yet available |
not yet available |
not yet available |
|
MWHB |
3 |
not known at present |
not known at present |
|
NEHB |
2 |
17 |
18 |
|
NWHB |
5 |
18 |
4 |
|
SEHB |
13 |
no details provided |
no details provided |
|
SHB |
20 |
34 |
32 |
|
WHB |
data not routinely recorded |
data not routinely recorded |
data not routinely recorded |
Number of measles cases serologically confirmed – 2000
|
Health Board |
|
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
|
|
Midland Health Board |
data not provided |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
3 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
3 |
|
North-Western Health Board |
6 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
26 |
|
Southern Health Board |
data not routinely recorded |
|
Western Health Board |
data not routinely recorded |
Number of persons hospitalised – most common complication – 2000
|
Health Board |
Hospitalised |
Most common complication |
Eastern Regional Health Authority
Midland Health Board
data not currently available
data not currently available
Mid-Western Health Board
5
Respiratory symptoms
North-Eastern Health Board
7
data not provided
North-Western Health Board
17
Respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, encephalitis.
South-Eastern Health Board
24
Ear infections, upper respiratory tract infections, high temperature.
Southern Health Board
38
data not routinely collected
Western Health Board
data not routinely recorded
data not routinely recorded
Number of children hospitalised – under 15 months – 2000
|
Health Board |
|
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
|
|
Midland Health Board |
data not currently available |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
1 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
1 |
|
North-Western Health Board |
6 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
5 |
|
Southern Health Board |
19 |
|
Western Health Board |
data not routinelyrecorded |
Five of the boards indicated that they do not routinely record the vaccination status of hospitalised measles cases. The North Western Health Board indicated that of the six babies 15 months and under who were hospitalised none was completely unvaccinated. The response from the Mid-Western Health Board is unclear and requires further clarification.
Persons over 15 months hospitalised who had received one dose of MMR; two or more doses of MMR and no childhood
immunisation
|
Health Board |
one dose |
two or more doses |
no childhood immunisation |
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
|||
|
Midland Health Board |
data not currently available |
data not currently available |
data not currently available |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
no record of MMRimmunisation |
no record of MMRimmunisation |
All received primaryimmunisations |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
data not recorded |
data not recorded |
data not recorded |
|
North-Western Health Board |
18% |
data not available |
information provided requires further clarification |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
information not available |
information not available |
information not available |
|
Southern Health Board |
data not routinely recorded |
data not routinely recorded |
data not routinely recorded |
|
Western Health Board |
data not routinely recorded |
data not routinely recorded |
data not routinely recorded |
Number of persons hospitalised who required intensive care treatment
|
Health Board |
|
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
|
|
Midland Health Board |
data not currently available |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
0 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
information not recorded |
|
North-Western Health Board |
0 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
0 |
|
Southern Health Board |
data not routinely recorded |
|
Western Health Board |
data not routinely recorded |
The number of cases where measles were acquired nosocomially – 2000
|
Health Board |
|
|
Eastern Regional Health Authority |
|
|
Midland Health Board |
information not currently available |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
0 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
information not routinely recorded |
|
North-Western Health Board |
0 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
0 |
|
Southern Health Board |
5 |
|
Western Health Board |
information not routinely recorded |
Annual notification of measles cases from 1982 to present:
|
1982 |
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
|
1,897 |
6,180 |
5,725 |
9,903 |
451 |
201 |
936 |
1,248 |
556 |
135 |
|
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000* |
2001 *#* |
* Provisional figure
*# to 24 March 2001
I am concerned that immunisation uptake rates for the primary childhood immunisation programme, and in particular for MMR, are still below the target of 95%, which is required to achieve herd immunity. My Department is in regular contact with the health boards at a senior level about the issues which need to be addressed to meet the target. The health boards are in the process of developing strategies to address the uptake problems on a national basis.
In addition, a national steering committee has been established which will address a wide range of issues relating to immunisation including the primary childhood immunisation programme. These issues will include identifying and addressing the difficulties which are hampering achievement of the uptake target. MMR is a safe and effective vaccine and I take this opportunity to urge all parents to immunise their children. This will ensure individual children and the population generally have maximum protection against the diseases concerned.
Questions Nos. 232 and 233 answered with Question No. 221.