Written answers
Tuesday, 2 February 2016
Department of Health
Infectious Disease Incidence
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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408. To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE is planning an awareness campaign in relation to a certain condition (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4423/16]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Health Protection Surveillance Centre of the HSE is responsible for the surveillance of notifiable infectious diseases such as Lyme Disease. The Scientific Advisory Committee of the HPSC has established a Lyme Borreliosis Sub-Committee, the aim of which is to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention in order to minimise the harm caused by Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland. The Terms of Reference of the Sub-Committee are:
- To raise awareness in Ireland of Lyme Borreliosis amongst clinicians and the general public;
- To identify and highlight best international practice in raising awareness about Lyme Borreliosis for the general public;
- To develop policies of primary prevention of Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland based on best international practice;
- To explore ways in which to improve surveillance of neuroborreliosis in Ireland;
- To develop strategies to raise awareness among the general public particularly in areas of higher tick populations
- To produce a Final Report covering all the above areas.
Each year in late Spring/early Summer, the HPSC holds a Lyme Awareness Week to raise awareness among clinicians and the general public on the risk of infected tick bites, protecting oneself against tick bites and identifying the disease. In addition, there is extensive material regarding Lyme Disease on the HPSC website, www.hpsc.ie.
Comments
Kathy Forde
Posted on 5 Feb 2016 10:28 am (Report this comment)
Thank you Deputy McGrath for bringing up the topic of Lyme disease.
I as a parent of a child clinically diagnosed in Sep 2013 with Lyme disease after being sick for 18mths, we had met several Irish Consultants and 3 Irish hospitals and Lyme disease was never discussed or brought to the table as a possible reason for my daughter being ill. I sympathize with any patient that has this terrible depilating disease and we need more awareness and acknowledgement of Lyme disease.
Patients are forced outside the country to seek medical advice that should be available here.
I am waiting on the outcome of the Lyme Borreliosis Sub-Committee for some time, hopefully we will see this in 2016.
Ann Maher
Posted on 3 Feb 2016 9:08 pm (Report this comment)
Thank you Deputy McGrath for again asking questions about the HSE Awareness Campaign in relation to Lyme disease .We Patients seem to be waiting a long time for the Report from this Sub Committee.Can we Please soon try and help Patients that have already Chronic Lyme Disease .Many of us have Neuroborreliosis because G.P's are just not getting adequate Information Re diagnosis and Treatment of this Shocking Disease..