Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Harris, asked me to pass on his apologies for not being present to take this Topical Issue. On his behalf, I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I will read the script and then respond to some of Deputy Connolly's concerns.

I wish to assure the Deputy that the incidence of tuberculosis in Ireland is low. The World Health Organization categorises Ireland as a low incidence country, with less than ten cases per 100,000 population. The annual notification rate of TB in Ireland has declined since 2007 when the rate was 11.3 per 100,000, or a total of 480 cases. In 2010 and 2011, the annual TB notification rates were 9.2 per 100,000 or 420 cases in 2010 and 424 cases in 2011, which were the lowest rates recorded since surveillance of TB began in the 1950s when up to 7,000 cases were recorded per year.

Tuberculosis is a preventable and curable disease. It can be contracted by breathing in the bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosiswhich may be sneezed or coughed by a person who has TB in his or her lungs. However, although it is contagious, the HSE has advised that TB is not very infectious: close, prolonged contact with a sick person is usually required to become infected.

On the specific case referred to by the Deputy, the HSE has advised that a small number of cases of tuberculosis are identified in Galway University Hospital each year. That is within the expected range for the population size served by the hospital. When a case of TB is diagnosed, the hospital works with the HSE department of public health to provide screening for the family and for patients and staff who had close contact with the person, in line with best medical practice. This is called contact tracing and may involve a skin test, blood test or chest X-ray. Infection with the TB bacteria may not lead to developing the TB disease. Most people exposed to TB are able to overcome the bacteria. The bacteria become inactive, but remain dormant in the body and can become active later. This is called latent TB infection. People who have it do not feel unwell and cannot pass TB on to others. They may develop TB disease later in life and are offered up to six months' treatment to prevent that.

Staff can be exposed to TB in any healthcare setting. A patient suspected to have TB is isolated and the necessary precautions are put in place. If other patients or staff are exposed to TB, the department of public health follows up in regard to patient contacts while the department of occupational health deals with staff exposure.

On the specific case referred to by the Deputy, several staff in Galway University Hospital are being followed up by the departments of occupational health and public health following exposure to a patient earlier this year. It was not initially known that the patient had TB. The patient was admitted as an inpatient and subsequently found to be infectious. A review of the case will take place under our quality and safety processes. Education sessions have taken place for staff and the hospital is currently reviewing operating procedures for the management of TB.

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