Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of people affected by tuberculosis here; the level of care available; the way the figure compares with previous years; the measures in place to prevent further infections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18529/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE monitors rates of TB in Ireland on an ongoing basis. According to data provided by the HPSC, TB notifications in Ireland between 2004 and 2008 (provisional data) were as shown in the following table.

Provisional figures from 2008 indicate a decrease in the number of TB notifications in the country. The number reported during 2008 is less than that reported in any year since 2004.

A number of disciplines in the health service are involved in the management of TB cases and prevention of TB in other individuals. The services involved include hospital, primary care and public health. Various disciplines will be involved in the diagnosis, care and follow-up of individuals with TB and their contacts (nurses, doctors, radiologists, laboratory staff, social workers etc.) Individuals with TB may require hospitalisation if severely ill or with infection that is highly resistant to treatment. Multidrug (typically four drugs to start with) antibiotic treatment is usually of 6 months duration but may be longer. In some individuals with antibiotic resistant TB additional antibiotics may be required.

The National TB Advisory Committee has developed guidelines (being finalised after a consultation period) for the prevention and control of Tuberculosis in Ireland. These guidelines include recommendations on Surveillance, Screening, Preventive therapy, Clinical management of cases, Laboratory diagnosis, BCG vaccination, HIV infection and tuberculosis, and review the epidemiology of tuberculosis and provide advice as required to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) immunisation committee on the use of vaccines to prevent cases of tuberculosis. When a TB case in the community is identified, the notification process ensures that close contacts are followed up and investigated to determine if they have infected and if treatment is required. This process is implemented in all HSE areas routinely.

The BCG vaccine is given to protect against tuberculosis. BCG has contributed to the dramatic decline in TB over the past 40 years. The national rate of BCG immunisation uptake now stands at 93% for children at 12 months of age. Vaccination is not mandatory in Ireland, but is strongly recommended by my Department. Under the Childhood Immunisation Programme all vaccines and their administration are provided free of charge for all children.