asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of infectious hepatitis recorded in 1979, 1980 and 1981.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Infectious Hepatitis.
2.
The number of cases of infectious hepatitis notified to the Department of Health under the Infectious Diseases Regulations was as follows: 1979, 419 cases; 1980, 512 cases; 1981, 840 cases.
In the light of almost a 100 per cent increase in the incidence of infectious hepatitis over the last two years, is the Minister happy that all cases are being reported? Is he happy with the serious concern among people dealing with hygiene at present that the regulations in relation to hygiene are not being complied with especially in places which the public frequent? Is the Minister satisfied that the authorities responsible for implementing those regulations are carrying out their full responsibilities? Does he agree that it is because of a breakdown in our hygiene regulations that there is such an alarming increase in the incidence of this disease?
I am very concerned about the position because it is one of the principal indicators of bad hygiene. I believe the people generally are not taking the question of personal hygiene and hygiene in public places seriously enough. By public places I mean, particularly, food premises, hotels, pubs, work places and other such places. On 8 March I sent a letter to the directors of community care requesting them to increase their vigilance in this area and informing them of my concern.
On 8 March?
Yes.
The Minister was not Minister then.
The letter went on 8 March.
It was the Minister's predecessor who sent it.
The Secretary of the Department sent the letter.
The Minister should not claim credit for something he did not do.
The Minister should not be interrupted.
I am speaking in relation to the findings. I was not speaking politically. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the Department sent the letter to the directors of community care in relation to the increase in the incidence of this disease. This is something which the Department are taking very seriously. I am also quite concerned about it. The Deputy asked me if I believed all the cases are being reported. I do not believe they are. That is an area which needs consideration. The request to the directors of community care also covered that aspect. Generally speaking, the Health Education Bureau are doing very excellent work in this area in schools. They introduced a school kit for children during my previous period as Minister —it is on record that this matter was taken very seriously then—which is very good. There is a great deal of work going on in relation to children. We have a lot more to do in relation to adults. The Health Education Bureau have also been asked to carry out a hygiene campaign in relation to hepatitis specifically. They will also undertake a research programme into the incidence of the disease along the general lines that there is not sufficient information available.
I thank the Minister for his very detailed reply but I am not happy that the schools are taking action speedily enough when incidents arise. Would the Minister consider sending a directive to school authorities to take steps immediately to close schools where there are epidemics? That has not happened in the past. I am talking especially about the Cork experience.
There was a case where a school in Cork was closed for three weeks in November 1981. The matter there has since been cleared up completely. Every home was visited, the family doctors were consulted and every possible action was taken there. The Health Education Bureau have already been in contact with the schools in this respect. It would be a routine matter to take whatever steps were necessary, even if these involved the closing of a school, which was done in the Cork case. It may not have been done as quickly as the Deputy felt was necessary. That is a matter for the judgment of the medical personnel on the spot.