Written answers

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Department of Health

Disease Management

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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714. To ask the Minister for Health if his officials will consider the way in which to raise awareness of Lyme disease with the general public who are now exercising outdoors more frequently during the Covid-19 emergency. [11570/20]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) is responsible for the surveillance of notifiable infectious diseases such as Lyme disease.  The Scientific Advisory Committee of the HPSC established a Lyme Borreliosis Subcommittee to look at ways of increasing public awareness.  Part of the work of the Subcommittee is to ensure that all GPs are familiar with identifying and managing Lyme disease.  The HPSC website (hpsc.ie) provides extensive information on Lyme disease diagnosis, treatment and how to avoid tick bites for the general public and health professionals.  

As this PQ refers to operational matters regarding Lyme disease, I have referred it to the Health Service Executive for further attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Comments

Julia Roddy
Posted on 18 Jun 2020 10:00 pm (Report this comment)

Mr Harris does not answer Mary Lou McDonalds question. We need a government-backed awareness campaign immediately as people are presently at risk whilst outdoor as Mary outlines during this pandemic. I am a mother of three who was unfortunate to suffer undiagnosed and untreated Lyme. In the last month, I have removed six ticks from my boys one of whom has recently received a diagnosis for Lyme. We need immediate action and less passing the buck over to the HSE who have mismanaged Lyme catastrophically to date. Lyme awareness is currently an urgent matter.

Ann Maher
Posted on 1 Sep 2020 7:52 pm (Report this comment)

Can you please have some type of Awareness Campaign right now,
Not everyone checks the HPSC website before going for a Walk in the Great outdoors..
If we havent adequate testing for Lyme borreliosis here , how can the Medical Professionals distinguise Between Lyme and Covid 19.The symptoms are very similiar.

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/lyme-disease-and-covi...

https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/vectorborne/lymedisease/

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