Vol. 555 No. 2
129 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal suggesting that there could be as many as 6,600 people in Britain suffering from vCJD; his views on the call made by a person (details supplied) for a similar study to be carried out here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18059/02]
I am aware of the study referred to by the Deputy. I have accepted the advice of the national CJD committee that a similar tonsil prion study should be carried out in Ireland, as it will provide us with vital information as to the vCJD prevalence in Ireland. The study will be conducted in Beaumont Hospital, and has already received approval from its ethics committee. However, there are still some outstanding legal issues to be resolved in relation to the study but I am confident these issues will be resolved shortly and that the study will commence without undue delay. The Deputy may wish to note that, in the British study, the prion protein that causes the disease was detected in what is the equivalent to 120 cases per million of population. Ireland, however, has a much lower rate than Britain, with only one confirmed vCJD case, in comparison with 115 vCJD deaths in Britain.
