Dáil debates

Thursday, 17 November 2005

4:00 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Donoghue, for being present. All Health Service Executive areas were instructed on Monday, 31 October, by the assistant national director of population health, Dr. Kevin Kelleher, to actively offer all poultry workers the 'flu vaccine as an urgent public health measure. The vaccine is to be available from GPs, who will be reimbursed by the HSE for supplying it free. HSE regions with high concentrations of poultry workers, such as in Cavan and Monaghan, have been instructed to consider establishing local clinics in high density poultry areas.

I raise this issue because I have learnt from people working in the poultry sector in my constituency that this scheme has not been rolled out. A request to a GP to avail of the vaccine was met with a response that it was not free of charge and would have to be paid for in full. I would like the Minister to clarify the situation on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children. How is the scheme being rolled out? This initiative has been taken primarily to prevent people being infected with the seasonal influenza virus and the avian 'flu virus at the same time. Such double infections can lead to mutations and could precipitate a 'flu pandemic affecting the human population on a wide scale.

Having been briefed by the Department of Health and Children on the dangers of an avian 'flu pandemic, I am certain that the recent and current widespread concern and media coverage was no false alarm. There is a real risk that the human population could yet be severely affected. The decision of the HSE to offer the vaccine free of charge to all poultry workers is therefore a welcome and essential public health measure. As I have stated, the comprehensive immunisation of those working in the poultry sector is essential to help prevent the development of a mutant virus that could then trigger a human 'flu pandemic. This can happen if someone attacked by the human form of the virus contracts the avian variety at the same time.

I have publicly urged all poultry workers to take up the vaccine as soon as possible. The HSE needs to ensure maximum publicity for this scheme and full accessibility. I want the Minister, on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, to assure the House that this scheme is going ahead. How is it being rolled out? Have the HSE areas acted on the instruction of the assistant national director of population health? Have they publicised the scheme and have all GPs been informed?

In my constituency, Cavan-Monaghan, where a significant section of the poultry industry in this State is located, I have seen no evidence of this measure being implemented so far. The experience I have described strongly suggests that the wheels have not yet been set in motion. The end of November is approaching, and clearly winter has already set in. Can the Minister clarify the matter and assure the House that this essential measure is being put into operation?

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I am happy to have the opportunity to respond on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the HSE has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for the administration of influenza vaccine.

The HSE has confirmed that it has directed that all poultry workers should be actively offered this year's seasonal 'flu vaccine. This instruction issued to the HSE areas from the population health directorate on 31 October 2005. This is a public health measure and its purpose is to prevent the possibility of an individual being infected by both avian influenza and human influenza at the same time.

Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease of birds that occasionally affects other animals and, while people can become infected, they rarely do. The view of the Department of Agriculture and Food is that the immediate risk of the disease being introduced into Ireland by migratory birds remains low. Although the avian H5Nl virus is highly pathogenic in human beings, all evidence to date indicates that it does not spread easily from birds to infect humans and human outbreaks have been short-lived. All the recorded human cases of H5Nl infections were associated with direct contact with infected poultry. There is currently no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of avian influenza.

The greatest concern for human health is that the avian H5Nl virus will remain endemic and that continued transmission of the virus to humans and other animals will provide opportunities for human and avian viruses to exchange genes to produce a new virus that can replicate in humans and become highly pathogenic and easily transmissible between humans. In a human population with no pre-existing immunity, such a virus could trigger a global influenza pandemic. That is why it has been decided that poultry workers should receive the normal flu vaccine. Vaccination is being provided free of charge to the relevant individuals.

Those defined as poultry workers include poultry flock owners and their families, poultry veterinary practitioners, poultry advisers, Department of Agriculture and Food veterinary inspectors and other personnel involved in outbreak control measures, laboratory personnel involved in poultry post mortems or poultry virology, catching teams, poultry transporters, carcass transport and rendering plant personnel, workers in the hang-on, stunning and plucking areas in slaughter plants, fieldsmen, vaccinators, selectors and so on, people involved in cleaning and disinfection of poultry houses or poultry transport, as well as personnel involved in litter removal and litter processing.

Relevant staff in the Department of Agriculture and Food will be vaccinated by the Civil Service occupational health service. The HSE has advised that arrangements are under way to provide the vaccination. I am satisfied that the vaccination programme will be implemented in full. Vaccine supplies are available and particular focus is being placed on those counties with a high concentration of poultry farms, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.