Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 1

Written Answers. - Outbreaks of Salmonellosis.

Liam Kavanagh

Ceist:

28 Mr. Kavanagh asked the Minister for Health the number of cases of salmonellosis reported in each of the years from 1985 to date; the studies which he has carried out to ascertain the causes of these outbreaks of salmonellosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

The number of cases of salmonellosis reported for the years in question to my Department under the existing monitoring system for infectious diseases in the community is as follows:

1985	—	142
1986	—	265
1987	—	249
1988	—	284
1989	—	427

Where there is an outbreak of salmonellosis an investigation is carried out by the health board through the director of community care and his team to determine and isolate the cause of the outbreak.

There were three significant outbreaks of salmonellosis which contributed to the increased figures for 1989. Apart from these outbreaks it is difficult to say to what extent the increased figures for 1989 may be due to an increase in the incidence of salmonellosis generally or an improvement in notifications to my Department following on an increased public awareness to the risks of salmonellosis.