asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the monitoring which is taking place on the incidence of AIDS in this country; and the steps his Department are taking to minimise the possibility of the spread of infection by blood or blood products.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monitoring of AIDS.
7.
My Department has been keeping the situation in regard to AIDS under review at national and international level since it was recognised as a disease entity in 1981.
A detailed monitoring system identical with that used by the WHO and in the EC has been introduced and all appropriate medical authorities have been asked to report immediately all suspected cases of AIDS to the chief medical officer of the Department.
With regard to the possible spread of infection through blood products, the Blood Transfusion Service Board have taken appropriate action to minimise the possibility of the spread of infection by blood or blood products. It is believed that heat treatment destroys the AIDS virus and, therefore, only heat treated blood products are now being used here. In addition the Blood Transfusion Service Board is taking steps to achieve national self-sufficiency in blood products to avoid importing these products from countries with risk populations.
May I assume from the Minister's reply that this disease is a notifiable disease? Has the Minister power to detain persons diagnosed as having the disease? What controls are there on the importation of fractionated plasma from abroad? Will the Minister tell the House the number of patients who have died here from the disease?
We have four cases in Ireland. Two cases were treated in a Dublin hospital, one of whom died and the other went abroad. Two other cases have been reported in another hospital. That is all the information I am prepared to give at this stage. I should like to make the point that the mortality rate from the disease is about 60 per cent.
The Minister did not answer two points I raised. Is it a legally notifiable disease? Has the Minister power to detain persons diagnosed as having the disease?
Last July we took very definite steps. The Department established a detailed monitoring system identical to that used by the WHO and the EC. We have a very clear surveillance system operating. I should like to assure the Deputy that the spread of infection through blood or blood products, even those in relation to importation, is under definite control. Any other action required will be taken.
Is the Minister saying that we are not going as far as the UK went in regard to the detention of patients diagnosed as having the disease? I am not clear if medical authorities are legally obliged to notify the Department of Health of any occurrence of the disease.
They are in the sense that the directors of community care at local level received a firm direction. An elaborate questionnaire in regard to each case was sent out. I do not propose to introduce a detention system because it would not be practicable. It is a matter of treating such persons as best we can when they contract this dreadful disease.