Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004
85 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the efforts she has made to identify possible causes for the tragic incident of human variant CJD; the extent to which scientific analysis has been concluded in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29626/04]
View answerThis case relates to a 23 year old man who was admitted to a Dublin hospital about seven weeks ago and who has now been diagnosed as suffering from variant CJD. I am advised that the probability is that he contracted it before the current very strict controls on the sale of meat in Ireland were brought into force in 1996. However, given that the incubation period for variant CJD is considered to be several years, it is virtually impossible to identify the specific source of infection.
I have been advised by the chairman of the national CJD advisory group on any possible broader public health implications which may have arisen from this case and the advice was that there is no public health issue in this case as the patient has never received a blood transfusion, he was never a blood donor and he has not received any invasive medical treatments. The role of the national CJD advisory group is to provide scientific, professional and technical advice on all aspects of CJD and the policy responses that are appropriate in the light of the evolving information and evidence on this topic.
I have also been advised by the chairman of the advisory group that the measures in place to protect public health, particularly in relation to the protection of the blood supply, are in accordance with best international practice.
Following preliminary discussions with the chairman of the advisory group and with the medical director of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, in regard to this case, the initial conclusion is that no other measures apart from those already in place need to be taken. The IBTS undertook a review of its policies following the first reported case of transfusion infection in the UK last year and again in July this year following the second reported case.
The national CJD advisory group has also recently endorsed the most up-to-date infection control guidance from the National Disease Surveillance Centre in respect of the management of CJD in the health care setting and my Department is ensuring the circulation of the guidance through the health care system. The disease continues to be notifiable and the national CJD surveillance unit in Beaumont Hospital continues its activity in monitoring the occurrence of CJD in Ireland.
I would again like to sympathise with this young man and his family in this very difficult time and ask the media to respect their privacy.
