DANGERS OF LYME DISEASE IN TRANSFUSIONS

COUNCILLOR SAYS MORE AWARENESS NEEDS TO BE RAISED OVER ISSUE

SINN Fein Councillor Damian Quigg has asked Kerry County Council to write to the HSE asking what plans are in place to screen people with Lyme disease who may be donating blood.

Cllr Quigg tabled the motion at a recent council meeting where he stated that people who may not know they have Lyme disease could be donating blood which can lead to cross contamination. Council management said the matter is currently under consideration.

“If people get Lyme disease there is nothing to stop them from donating blood considering there is a strong possibility the disease may be passed on without even knowing it,” he said.

Although cases of Lyme disease linked to blood transfusions are considered low, Lyme disease bacteria can live in blood from a person with an active infection that is stored for donation. An international Red Cross source said individuals being treated for Lyme disease with antibiotics should not donate blood.

The Killorglin based Councillor is also asking that a common method of testing for Lyme disease be implemented across Europe and not a system specific to individual laboratories.

Cllr Quigg said, in his opinion, the lack of a positive response to the Lyme disease issue in Kerry is being affected by concerns over the tourism industry, in particular Killarney National Park as deer are considered prime carriers of infected ticks.

“The officials need to put more signs up and create awareness as this is a real situation and not some made up health concern. It’s just not right having one method of testing in Germany as this goes against everything the Europe Union is supposed to be about.”

He added: “There should be a cross departmental strategy or standard testing procedure. We need to ask why Lyme disease can be tested for in Germany and Portadown but not in the Republic.”

The HSE was contacted for a comment but no reply was received at the time of going toprint.

The issue of Lyme disease in Kerry featured prominently throughout 2017 with several personal stories by sufferers reporting on their frustration over what they say is a lack of awareness by health officials in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease. In October, upwards of 30 people from Kerry protested over Lyme disease awareness at Leinster House as part of the national ‘Tick Talk’ group.

Coinciding with this protest was a presentation by Dr Jack Lambert - a Consultant Specialist in Exotic Disease at the Mater Hospital – who spoke to Oireachtas members about the intervention measures needed to tackle the disease.

He outlined that better treatment was needed as patients currently need to travel to Germany and the US for diagnoses and treatment. Better education among primary care physicians, better public knowledge, and the importance of early intervention were also key priorities listed by Dr Lambert.

Cllr Damian Quigg