Bernard Allen
Question:263 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of BSE related illnesses diagnosed in each of the years from 1997 to 1999. [3086/00]
Written Answers. - BSE Related Illness.
There are four types of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease – CJD. Sporadic CJD, the most common, usually affects individuals between the age of 50 and 75 years and is characterised by a rapidly progressive dementia. Familial CJD is an inherited disease associated with a gene mutation. Iatrogenic CJD results from transmission of the causative agent via medical or surgical treatment using accidentally contaminated materials, for example, surgical instruments. New variant CJD – vCJD – is a new disease which was first described in March 1996.
Scientific evidence collected over recent years indicates that BSE and vCJD are most likely caused by the same BSE agent. In Ireland a system of active surveillance has been established to detect new cases of CJD. There has been one case of vCJD diagnosed in Ireland. This was in 1999.