Expert issues a stark TB warning

DUBLIN could be on the brink of a TB epidemic, a medical expert has warned.

A tuberculosis specialist, Dr Margaret Hannan, has found that recent clusters of infection, which were traced back to Dublin pubs, could be a sign of an epidemic outbreak.

Dr Hannan says that of 300 cases studied recently the majority were Irish males from north Dublin, many of whom drank in local pubs.

Dr Hannan, in an Irish Medical Times report, states that these findings are a sign of a lack of TB control and that cases are not being picked up by the health system.

She said 26 cases of infection were traced to one public house.

Ms Hannan, a microbiologist with the Mater Hospital who is preparing nationwide statistics on the disease, says the problem has been exacerbated by the closure last year of Peamount Hospital, the country’s only tuberculosis hospital.

Dr Hannan warned there is a danger of an epidemic outbreak if urgent steps are not taken to control the disease.

“We carried out research looking at all of north Dublin, which found that people who had evidence of recently picking up the infection were young Irish-born males,” said Dr Hannan, “and not the usual suspects who are drug addicts, heavy drug users, immigrants and the poor.

“These were young men, in employment, who were living in urban parts of Dublin. One of the things we found was that they were all living in certain areas and all drinking in certain pubs. That is indicative of poor TB control in the country and that could be the beginning of an epidemic outbreak,” she said.

Dr Hannan made her comments to the Irish Medical Times in advance of a special World TB study day to be held at the Mater Hospital on March 24.