Bernard J. Durkan
Question:332 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of incidents of meningitis reported in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18388/02]
Adjournment Debate. - Meningitis Incidence.
There are two forms of meningitis, namely bacterial and acute viral meningitis. The National Disease Surveillance Centre collates and interprets data on infectious diseases in Ireland. Bacterial meningitis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality especially in young children. Meningococcal disease is the most common form of bacterial meningitis in Ireland – accounting for up to 90% of the cases. Group B and group C disease are the two types of meningococcal disease most prevalent in this country. According to the NDSC, 296 cases of bacterial meningitis were notified in Ireland between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002. Bacterial meningitis notifications declined by 31% when compared to the same period the previous year, October 2000-September 2001, when 431 cases were notified. This reduction can largely be attributed to the success of the meningococcal group C, Men C, immunisation campaign which I launched in October 2000.
Group B disease now accounts for 89% of the meningococcal disease notifications in Ireland. However, at present there are no effective group B vaccines suitable for routine immunisation.
Acute viral meningitis tends to be a milder disease than bacterial meningitis. Between 1 October 2001 and 30 September 2002, 53 cases of acute viral meningitis were notified compared to 165 cases over the same period the previous year, October 2000-September 2001. This represents a 68% reduction in the number of acute viral meningitis cases notified. In the 18-month period, June 2000-December 2001 the level of activity due to acute viral meningitis cases was higher than usual both in Ireland and the UK. This increase coincided with an increase in reports of laboratory confirmed cases of particular strains of enteroviruses. The incidence in the disease has declined to normal baseline in 2002.