Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1993

Vol. 433 No. 1

Written Answers. - Tuberculosis Incidence.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

234 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the most recent information on tuberculosis incidence in community area 8 of the Eastern Health Board; his views on the levels of tuberculosis infection in area 8 and other districts of the Eastern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The number of cases of tuberculosis notified for the last three years in community care area 8 is as follows:

Year	Number of Cases
1990	27
1991	13
1992	43

Because of the relatively small number of cases of tuberculosis in each community care area notified to the Department by the Eastern Health Board it is normal that an average incidence over a number of years be considered together to give a true indication of the incidence of the disease.

The average incidence over the three year period was 14.69 per 100,000 of population. In the Eastern Health Board as a whole the average annual incidence of the disease for the same period was 15.5 per 100,000 of population.

A working party under the chairmanship of the Chief Medical Officer of my Department is presently examining all aspects of tuberculosis including notification, surveillance, treatment and contact tracing procedures. Their aim is to ensure that there is an appropriate framework to deal with all problems associated with tuberculosis. I expect the group to report before the end of this year.