SEAC :

Press Release

22nd July 2004

SEAC has been notified by the National CJD surveillance unit (NCJDSU) of a second case of possible vCJD prion transmission via blood transfusion. The Department of Health asked SEAC to advise on any implications this finding may have on the risk associated with blood.

The patient received a blood transfusion in 1999 from a donor who subsequently developed vCJD. The patient died in 2004, of causes unrelated to vCJD so it is not known if the vCJD infection would have developed to clinical disease if the patient had lived longer. However, a post mortem examination showed the presence of the abnormal form of the prion protein in the spleen. The patient had a different genetic background to that previously found in all other vCJD cases.

SEAC agreed that this second case of apparent vCJD infection added to the evidence that the vCJD agent can be transmitted by blood.

Further to the ministerial statement issued on the 22nd July 2004, the NCJDSU will soon publish details of this case in the medical journal, The Lancet and a detailed SEAC statement will be available on the SEAC web site at www.seac.gov.uk.

Notes for editors

1. SEAC provides independent expert advice on all issues relating to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) including BSE and CJD.

2. The first case of probable blood transfusion-associated transmission of vCJD was considered by SEAC in February 2004.

3. A copy of the ministerial statement on this case and additional measures to protect the blood supply is available from the Department of Health at www.dh.gov.uk.

4. The Lancet journal is a weekly publication available at www.thelancet.com.

5. For media enquiries only, please contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5623 / 5282 / 5658.

Page updated: 22nd July 2004