Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 1992

Vol. 415 No. 1

Written Answers. - Unspecified Hepatitis Cases.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

363 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that there is a breakdown of types of unspecified hepatitis which occur here especially in view of the fact that 122 cases of unspecified hepatitis have been notified to her Department so far up to November 1991; and if she will outline the total number of cases of unspecified hepatitis notified to her Department in 1991.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

364 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if she will outline the number of cases of unspecified hepatitis in each of the years between 1987 and 1991.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

373 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if she plans to have mandatory immunisation of health care workers in view of the risk they are exposed to in contracting hepatitis B.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

394 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health if she will give details of the number of cases of hepatitis B which were notified to her Department in (1) 1985, (2) 1986, (3) 1987, (4) 1988, (5) 1989, (6) 1990 and (7) 1991.

Minister for Health (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 363, 364, 373 and 394 together.

The incidences of hepatitis notified to my Department in the years 1985 to 1991 are as follows:

No of Cases

Year	Hepatitis A	Hepatitis B	Unspecified Hepa- titis	Total
1991	205	15	150	370
1990	538	6	398	942
1989	564	20	371	955
1988	261	32	253	545
1987	212	63	381	656
1986	126	55	544	725
1985	237	53	1192	1482

I am advised that the vast majority of cases of unspecified hepatitis are in fact hepatitis A and my Department are at present reviewing the system of notification of all communicable diseases.

No vaccination is compulsory in Ireland nor is it intended to make any vaccination compulsory. Following a review of policy in the area within my Department, guidelines were issued in 1988 whereby all health board and hospital staff who were deemed to be at risk were offered vaccinations free of charge against hepatitis B.