asked the Minister for Health the total number of deaths from AIDS in this country to date; the total estimated number of people currently suffering from the condition; if he will give any available projection of the number of deaths likely to occur over the next 10 years; if any additional steps are planned to curb the spread of the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - AIDS Deaths.
36.
A total of 111 cases of AIDS have been reported to the Department of Health as follows:
|
Homosexuals/Bisexuals |
46 |
|
IV Drug Abusers |
36 |
|
Homo/Bisexual/IVDU |
6 |
|
Haemophiliacs |
12 |
|
Heterosexuals |
4 |
|
Babies born to IV Drug Abusers |
5 |
|
Undetermined |
2 |
|
111 |
of these, 53 have died, as follows:—
|
Homosexuals/Bisexuals |
21 |
|
IV Drug Abusers |
10 |
|
Homo/Bisexual/IVDU |
4 |
|
Haemophiliacs |
7 |
|
Heterosexuals |
4 |
|
Babies born to IV Drug Abusers |
5 |
|
Undetermined |
2 |
|
53 |
A total of 30,790 persons have been tested for the virus and, of this, 886 have tested positive.
As I mentioned in my reply to the Deputy's question on 11 May 1989 (Official Report, columns 2181-2186) all the indications are that over the next ten years, Ireland is heading into an epidemic situation with a projected doubling of cases of full-blown AIDS every nine months, which is likely to last for the next four to eight years. This growth of cases assumes very little impact of intervention programmes such as the Outreach Programme or public information-education campaigns and assuming this rate of growth, by 1995 there could be as many as 12,240. However, it would not be appropriate to extrapolate beyond that.
As I mentioned also on that occasion, considerable progress has been made in combating the disease and assisting sufferers since the Government's AIDS strategy commenced in 1984. The strategy has been developed in line with national and international requirements and recommendations and compares very favourably with strategies adopted in other countries.