Shane Ross (Independent)

Perhaps it is due to my complete ignorance but I do not know what vector borne means. I do not have a clue what that means so it would help if I could have an explanation for it. I do not accept the response of the Minister of State, which states: "As most people suffer only mild symptoms and recover without recourse to a general practitioner, making the disease notifiable would not detect these cases." I am not interested in the milder cases; it is a severe case we are discussing. The response suggests that most people get this mildly and only a few people get this badly. I want to know about the people who get this disease badly. Why should they be condemned to having it misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all? These are the people to whom I refer. It is like many diseases which most people do not suffer from very badly. It is like swine flu and ME and many other illnesses. It is the people who suffer from it acutely who are important. To state most people contract it in mild form that we need not worry about the others is not enough. The reason for making it notifiable is to recognise those who suffer badly from it. Will the Minister of State tell me why they are not being considered and, of course, what "vectorborne" means?