Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Nov 1997

Vol. 483 No. 2

Written Answers. - Tuberculosis Incidence.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

45 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health and Children whether a new form of tuberculosis, resistant to most current drug therapies, has been found in Ireland; the measures, if any, he intends to take to deal with this threat to health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19890/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

A very small proportion of tuberculosis cases diagnosed in Ireland have been identified as drug-resistant.

The Working Party on Tuberculosis was established in 1992 to evaluate policy on the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis in Ireland and to make recommendations as it considered appropriate. In its report, published in September 1996, the working party concluded that while drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis are rare in Ireland the potential exists for an increase in this problem. The Department will continue to monitor the situation with a view to taking any action which may be required in the event that an increase in prevalence is reported by the treatment agencies.