Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 May 1990

Vol. 398 No. 1

Written Answers. - AIDS and HIV Infection.

Mervyn Taylor

Ceist:

65 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Health the assessment which has been made of the likely incidence of AIDS and HIV infection in the short and medium term; the provisions which have been made to deal with same in 1990; the relevant comparable figures for each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

Surveillance of AIDS cases and HIV infected persons has been carried out at both national and international level for the past six years. Close co-operation has been established with the EC Centre for AIDS Surveillance in Paris and the pattern of the doubling time for AIDS cases has been carefully monitored.

The initial impact of the AIDS epidemic was in homosexuals and haemophiliacs but from 1985 onwards, when HIV testing became available, it was apparent that the epidemic was moving towards IV drug abusers. At this stage AIDS cases were doubling on a nine month basis which was the classical position observed in the USA and EC countries. During the past 12 months a change has been noted. The doubling time of the disease in Ireland, as in most EC countries has lengthened to 15-16 months. In the EC AIDS surveillance system to which Ireland contributes its data the doubling time is now 69 per cent over a period of 12 months. In addition it has been noted that the ration of drug abuse cases to homosexuals has markedly increased over the past five years. Also, the EC surveillance system has shown a gradual but significant increase in heterosexual cases from 6.9 per cent in 1987 to 9.8 per cent in 1989. Approximately 4 per cent of Irish cases of AIDS are heterosexual. The lengthening of the doubling time is attributable to a change in lifestyle amongst the homosexuals. The evidence is that the number of cases among drug abusers and heterosexuals is increasing in all EC countries and the USA. The Irish experience of the AIDS epidemic is similar to that in the USA and other EC countries.

The comparable figures of cases of AIDS over the past three years are as follows: 1987 — 37; 1988 — 74; 1989 — 124; and 1990 (to date) — 142.

In my reply to an earlier Parliamentary Question I set out the Government's AIDS strategy. It is proposed to continue to develop this strategy during 1990, with particular emphasis on prevention through education and information. Central to this will be the introduction, on a formal basis, of an AIDS educational programme in secondary schools which is due to commence in 1990. As regards the management of cases of HIV, the EHB has recently established a 20 bed respite unit at Cherry Orchard Hospital which has direct links with St. James's Hospital.

In addition, in view of the increasing life expectancy of persons suffering from AIDS, the Department are considering the provision of domiciliary support for persons suffering from the disease. It is envisaged that this would involve both statutory and non-statutory bodies.