Written answers

Thursday, 9 March 2017

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Health the financial assistance available to persons who have to travel to Germany to have Lyme disease treated; the financial support available for Lyme disease patients that require ongoing medical treatment and medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12662/17]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis or LB) is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted to humans by bites from ticks infected with the bacteria. The infection is generally mild affecting only the skin, but can occasionally be more severe. Lyme disease is the commonest cause of tick-borne infection in Europe.

Lyme disease can be very successfully treated using common antibiotics. These antibiotics are effective at clearing the rash and helping to prevent the development of complications. Antibiotics are generally given for up to three weeks. If complications develop, intravenous antibiotics may be considered. In Ireland, treatment by most clinicians is based on that laid out in evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients with Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (formerly known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis), and babesiosis published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 2006.

A Lyme Borreliosis Sub-Committee of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been established to look at methods of raising awareness especially in those areas (including recreation areas) where Lyme carrying ticks can be most expected to be found. The aim of this Sub-Committee is to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention in order to minimise the harm caused by Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland. The membership of the Sub-Committee includes specialists in Public Health Medicine, Consultants in Infectious Diseases, Clinical Microbiology, Occupational Health, an Entomologist from the Parks and Wildlife Service, a representative from the Local Government Management Agency, an Environmental Health Officer, and a member of Tick Talk who has been invited to be the patient representative on the Sub-Committee. The initial work stream involves a survey of laboratory methods for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis in Ireland, the development of Lyme borreliosis guidance for general practitioners, the publication of medical media articles to highlight diagnostics and laboratory methods relating to Lyme borreliosis available in Ireland for general practitioners, and ongoing work in drawing together the Final Report of the Sub-Committee.

As the services referred to in the question are available in Ireland there is no requirement for people to travel to other countries for diagnosis or treatment.

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