Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 20 Nov 1997

Vol. 483 No. 2

Written Answers. - Meningitis Incidence.

John Gormley

Ceist:

65 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the growth, if any, in the incidence of meningitis among young people in this country; and the policy measures, if any, which are being undertaken by his Department to counteract the effects of this disease. [19818/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

There are two forms of meningitis — bacterial and viral. Bacterial meningitis is usually the more serious form of the disease. The number of cases of meningitis notified to my Department in recent years has been as follows:

	Bacterial Meningitis	Acute Viral Meningitis
1994	241	90
1995	382	74
1996	410	77
1997	369	27
(to 30 September)

Information as to the ages of those affected is not available. The majority of cases of the disease are known to occur in babies, children and persons under the age of 25.

As part of my Department's response to the rise in the number of cases of meningitis, the working group on bacterial meningitis was established in 1996 under the chairmanship of a deputy chief medical officer of the Department of Health. Its remit was "to examine the incidence of bacterial meningitis and related conditions, and to make such recommendations as may be required to strengthen the surveillance and control of these conditions."

The working group produced its report in January 1997 and made a number of recommendations relating to improved procedures for the diagnosis, surveillance and treatment of meningitis. These are being implemented by the health boards and other agencies concerned. The working group has continued in existence to monitor the situation and to provide advice on the surveillance and control of meningitis as required.

My Department has taken a number of steps to raise awareness of meningitis. The health promotion unit has produced a revised leaflet for the information of the public generally and a leaflet for general practitioners. An updated press facts document is being issued to the national media. My Department has also provided financial assistance to the Meningitis Research Foundation to enable an information and education officer to be employed for the next three years. The foundation carries out valuable work in ensuring a high level of public awareness about meningitis and there is co-operation between the health boards and the foundation in relation to public talks and local awareness campaigns.

The chief medical officer of my Department has recently written on my behalf to the director of public health in each health board, requesting that they take all necessary measures to ensure the highest possible awareness in relation to bacterial meningitis, principally meningococcal meningitis, among professionals, parents and the public generally. The directors have been asked to circulate the updated press facts document to the provincial media.