Mary Harney
Ceist:38 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health if a link has been found between the cases involved in the current outbreak of meningitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1675/95]
Written Answers. - Meningitis Outbreak.
Limerick East): Under the reporting and surveillance arrangements which are conducted in respect of bacterial meningitis by the Department of Health the health boards and individual doctors in the health services, a total of 43 cases of the disease were reported in November/December 1994 compared to 51 cases during the same period in 1993. A total of 203 cases were reported during 1993 and 239 cases during 1994. The Department and the health boards are remaining in close contact to ensure that the disease is monitored comprehensively. The current level of reporting would not be considered to represent an increase in the incidence of the disease above what could be expected at this time of the year.
Bacterial meningitis tends to occur sporadically in this country and information available from the hospital authorities and public health officials involved in the investigation of the four deaths from the disease earlier this month indicates that there is no link between them.