Written answers
Thursday, 25 May 2006
Department of Health and Children
Hepatitis B Incidence
5:00 pm
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 105: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of children and adults here with hepatitis B, which is a notifiable disease; and the best practice on the way in which to prevent infection of people who are in constant contact with people with Hepatitis B. [20081/06]
Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The following figures supplied by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) are for the total number of previously unreported cases of Hepatitis B notified each year.
| Table 1. Number of cases of hepatitis B notified to the HPSC, 1990-2006 (up to 23/05/2006) | |
| Year | Number of cases |
| 1990 | 11 |
| 1991 | 15 |
| 1992 | 13 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1994 | 20 |
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 1997 | 31 |
| 1998 | 157 |
| 1999 | 158 |
| 2000 | 187 |
| 2001 | 342 |
| 2002 | 457 |
| 2003 | 546 |
| 2004 | 736 |
| 2005 | 851 |
| 2006 up to the 23/05/06 | 290 |
| Total 1990-2006 | 3,847 |
| Table 2. Number of cases of hepatitis B notified to the HPSC, 2004-2006 (up to 23/05/2006), by age group | |
| Year | <= 18 years old= 18 years old Age unknown 2004 49 677 10 2005 56 791 4 2006 up to the 23/05/06 16 272 2Preventative measures for hepatitis B include:∙Vaccination of persons at increased risk∙Screening of pregnant women, with vaccination of infants of hepatitis B positive mothers∙Screening of blood donors for hepatitis B antigens and antibodies∙Use of standard precautions when handling human blood and body fluids and in situations where needles and other skin piercing equipment are used∙Use of safe sex practices∙Needle exchange programmes for injecting drug users.> |
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