Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a case of botulism presented at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin on 21 November 2008; the steps that have been taken since to increase the public health information aimed at drug abusers to ensure they seek immediate treatment for infected wounds and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45271/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy's question relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the dangers associated with botulism; the number of cases that have presented here in the past ten years; and the type of botulism involved and the causes. [45272/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Botulism is a potentially fatal disease caused by a botulinum toxin, produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Prior to 1 January 2004 foodborne botulism was notifiable under the Infectious Disease Regulations. Between 1998 and 2003, no cases of foodborne botulism were notified in Ireland. Since 1 January 2004, when all forms of botulism became notifiable, only six cases of botulism were notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre — one case in 2006 and the remaining five cases in 2008. The five cases notified in 2008, up to 5 December, include one foodborne case of botulism and four cases of presumed wound botulism which occurred among injecting drug users. The source of the infection among injecting drug users has not been identified and investigations are ongoing.