Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

141. To ask the Minister for Health the position on improving diagnostics and treatment for persons with Lyme disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46198/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borelliosis) is an infection caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. It is the commonest cause of tick-borne infection in Europe. Lyme neuroborreliosis was made statutorily notifiable in Ireland by the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. no 452 of 2011).

Testing and treatment for Lyme borreliosis is widely available in Ireland in all major hospitals. Lyme borelliosis is diagnosed by medical history and a physical examination which may be carried out by a General Practitioner. Lyme disease may be treated by infectious disease specialists (of which there are 12 nationally) or by general internal medicine available in all acute hospitals. Medical training programmes at undergraduate or postgraduate level in Ireland provides specialist training in infectious diseases, including Lyme disease.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE is responsible for the surveillance of notifiable infectious diseases such as Lyme disease. The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the HPSC established a Lyme Borreliosis Subcommittee, the aim of which is to develop strategies to undertake primary prevention with a view to minimising the harm caused by Lyme Borreliosis in Ireland.

The Subcommittee will shortly be meeting to consider its final report to the SAC. During the report’s preparation, the HPSC learned that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK was undertaking a systematic review of Lyme disease which resulted in the NICE Lyme disease guidelines. These guidelines are based on the most exhaustive systematic review yet undertaken of the evidence around Lyme disease and focused on producing recommendations based on best available evidence relating to diagnosis, management and public awareness of Lyme disease.

The HPSC delayed the final production of the Subcommittee report to ensure that the findings of these guidelines could be considered for inclusion into the final report. The report is in the final stages of preparation and it is planned to circulate the report to members of the Lyme Subcommittee with a view to having a final sign-off meeting of the Subcommittee in November, at which point it will be sent for consideration to the SAC. At this juncture, it would be inappropriate to consider making changes to the testing, treatment and/or management of the condition until this deliberative process has been completed. It is envisaged that, once published, these guidelines will provide further assistance to General Practitioners.

The HPSC also provides extensive information on Lyme disease diagnosis, treatment and how to avoid tick bites on its website (www.hpsc.ie).