CJD CRISIS ? Discuss

[Anne E Mjaatvedt]

  One question that I have had about this new CJD that scientists in the 
UK may have more information on is:  What is the scientific basis for 
connecting the new CJD strain with BSE?  Is it because of the pathology, 
age of onset, and other similarities, or are there other scientific 
links.  This new CJD is certainly frightening, but putting all resources 
to following up what might turn out to be the wrong mode or vector of 
transmission would only make things worse at this critical early stage of 
trying to deal with a new CJD strain.
  I appreciate any more information with regard to this aspect.

Anne Mjaatvedt
Medical University of South Carolina

On Mon, 29 Apr 1996, Nigel Kenward wrote:

> HI, Here'a a point for discussion:
> 
> As you probably know, a new "strain" of CJD has recently been dentified in the UK 
> (distinguished by: age of of patients, pathology, speed of disease and symptoms it presents 
> with) and naturally this has been linked with the outbreaks of B.S.E. over the last 10 years 
> or so.
> Last WEEK 3 new cases were discovered, including 2 in the same town ! This brings the total so 
> far this year to substantially more than would be expected with the more normal CJD SO;
> 
> Is this the tip of the iceberg ? Is this the start of the traditional "bell-shaped curve" seen 
> with infectious diseases ? Is it just a statistical anomaly ? Are the "doom-mongers" like 
> Prof. Lacey and Dr Dealer right in saying there could be thousands of cases in the next 10 
> years ?
> 
> Obviously the answer to these is "nobody knows, but what do you think ?
> 
> -- 
>             ____     ___
> |\   |  |  /    \   /     |         NIGEL KENWARD,
> | \  |  | |   ___  |__    |         Dept. Biochemistry,
> |  \ |  | |     |  |      |         Nottingham University Medical School.
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> -------------------------------     Nottingham. NG7 2UH.
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>