Creutzfeldt-Jakob (Prion) disease
Although Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is very rare, the condition can be difficult toprevent.
This is because most cases occur spontaneously for an unknown reason (sporadic CJD) and some are caused by an inherited genetic fault (familial CJD).
Sterilisationmethods usedto help preventbacteria and viruses spreading are also not completely effective against the infectious protein (prion) that causes CJD. However, tightened guidelines on the reuse of surgical equipment mean that cases ofCJD spread through medical treatment (iatrogenic CJD) are now very rare.
There are alsomeasures in place to prevent variant CJD spreading through the food supply or via the supply of blood used for Blood transfusion . These are described below.
Since the link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or 'mad cow disease') and variant CJD was confirmed, strict controls have been in place to stop BSE entering the human food chain.
These controls include:
In the UK, there have been four cases where variant CJD has been transmitted by blood transfusion. In eachcase, the person received a blood transfusion from a donor who later developed variant CJD.
Three ofthe four recipients went on to develop variant CJD, while the fourth recipient died before developing variant CJD, but was found to be infected following a post-mortem examination.
It's not certain whether the blood transfusion was the cause of the infection, as those involved could have contracted variant CJD through dietary sources. Nevertheless, steps were taken to minimise the risk of the blood supply becoming contaminated.
These steps include:
Find out about the different types of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and what causes the condition and how it's treated.
Read about the symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) which vary depending on the type. In sporadic CJD they are neurological and in variant CJD they are psychological.
Find out what causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The main cause of all types of CJD is a build-up of an abnormal infectious protein in the brain called a prion.
Read about the tests used to investigate Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) including MRI, EEG and lumbar puncture. A brain biopsy is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of CJD.
Find out what can be done for a person with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) to reduce their symptoms.
Read about the strict controls that are in place to prevent variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) spreading through the food supply and blood transfusions.