Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. He has highlighted that prevention is better than cure. It can be an issue for people who travel abroad, particularly those who participate in mountaineering and outdoor activities. They can return, feel ill and sometimes it is difficult to identify that Lyme disease is the cause.

Does the Minister agree that many in the medical profession are not aware of or fully appreciate the fact that one of these symptoms could be due to Lyme disease? Is the medical profession advised to identify Lyme disease if one of these symptoms is presented? Is there a programme to advise and update the medical profession on the developments surrounding Lyme disease? When representatives of the association appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children there was some concern about awareness of the disease among the medical profession and even a level of denial, on occasion, regarding the identification and treatment of the disease. I accept that the Department of Health has identified it as a notifiable disease, which means it is a very serious disease in that context. That is very helpful, but what is required is the dissemination of information, understanding by the medical profession, the awareness of the general population to look out for the symptoms and ensuring that the protections the Minister mentioned, which are very important, are used by the general public when they travel into areas where there is a high chance of contracting the disease.

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