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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hepatitis A Incidence.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

190 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of outbreaks of hepatitis A reported in schools in the past 12 months; the health board areas involved; his Department's policy in regard to notification of parents, reporting and vaccination; the overall policy to minimise infection and prevent further outbreaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10439/98]

The number of cases of hepatitis A notified by health boards to my Department for the period 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 is 378.

Hepatitis A is a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases Regulations, 1981. There is a statutory requirement on all general practitioners to notify their local Director of Community Care-Medical Officer of Health (DCC-MOH) of all cases of hepatitis A. On a weekly basis, the DCC-MOH's in turn notify the Department of the number of cases occurring in their area. However, a breakdown by location is not required under the regulations. Therefore, it is not possible to indicate the number of cases linked to schools.

Control of infectious diseases is the statutory responsibility of the relevant health board and where an outbreak of hepatitis A occurs a range of measures, including providing advice on personal hygiene and provision, where necessary, of immunisation, is employed by the health board.

A safe and effective hepatitis A vaccine is available and may be used in the case of outbreaks and to immunise those who may be at particular risk of acquiring hepatitis A. Department policy on this issue is guided by the advice of the Immunisation Advisory Committee, an expert group established by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. These guidelines provide information on the use of hepatitis A vaccine and other preventative agents in outbreaks, including those linked to schools, so as to prevent the transmission of the hepatitis A virus.

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