Category: CJD / vCJD / Mad Cow Disease

A study of the differences between the approaches adopted by the authorities in the US and UK to combat variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) has found that scientific evidence is not the only the factor determining how governments react to health crises. The research was conducted by Dr Maya Ponte of the University of California, San Francisco.

In response to media enquiries on a case involving a 23-year-old man with suspicious symptoms of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority (HA) said that the patient was being monitored but the diagnosis has not been confirmed yet. This case is not a local case. The man was born in the United Kingdom and came back to Hong Kong in early April this year.

A 23-year-old British tourist of Chinese origin has been hospitalized in Hong Kong with suspected vCJD, the human version of mad cow disease, say authorities. The man is at the Prince of Wales Hospital - the hospital has adopted infection control measures. He is said to be in a ‘critical condition’.Doctors say he had intestinal surgery.Tests do not seem to confirm or rule out vCJD. Authorities said the results were ‘inconclusive’.

Canadian authorities have confirmed that a mature beef cow from Alberta had mad-cow disease (BSE). According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), no part of the animal has entered the human or animal food chains. The cow is estimated to be between 8 and 10 years old, making it highly likely that it was exposed to BSE before the feed ban was implemented. The age estimate was made by the owner and a private veterinarian.

A study published in the online edition of the Journal of the Royal Society Interface has been exploring the likelihood that vCJD might be spread via the reuse of surgical instruments, and calls for more data in order to allay fears over the possible transmission of vCJD.The number of vCJD cases continues to decline, and it is believed that most cases to date are the result of consumption of BSE-infected beef.