asked the Minister for Health if he will give the number of new TB cases for each of the past ten years; whether there has been a marked shift in the disease to younger age groups; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient check is made in the schools.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Incidence of Tuberculosis.
90.
As the information requested in the first part of the question is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
The analysis of the numbers of new cases of tuberculosis, which has been completed for the years up to 1966, does not show a marked shift in the incidence of disease to younger age groups.
The screening of national school children for tuberculosis by health authorities is carried out as part of the School Medical Service and also through the BCG schemes. The arrangements appear to be generally satisfactory.
Following is the statement:
NUMBER of new cases of Tuberculosis Registered by Health Authorities.
|
Year |
New Cases Registered |
|
1958 |
3,899 |
|
1959 |
4,004 |
|
1960 |
3,166 |
|
1961 |
3,010 |
|
1962 |
2,820 |
|
1963 |
2,502 |
|
1964 |
2,178 |
|
1965 |
1,933 |
|
1966 |
1,928 |
|
1967 |
1,784 |
1967 is the latest year for which the information is available.
Would the Minister agree the phenomenon now seems to be a swing to the older age group and that mature people ought to be more vigilant in having X-rays than they would have been in the past?
Mr. Flanagan
This is absolutely the case.