- The number of people dying from the human form of BSE
rose last year, the Department of Health has revealed.
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- Eighteen people died from vCJD, compared with 17 in 2002,
according to the National CJD Surveillance Unit.
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- Scientists said last year the worst of the infections
could be over after the disease appeared to hit a high point in 2000 with
28 deaths, before falling.
-
- There have been 139 deaths since vCJD emerged in the
UK nine years ago. None has been reported so far this year.
-
- Seven people thought to have the incurable disease are
still alive.
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- Scientists baffled
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- BSE - bovine spongiform encephalopathy - has baffled
scientists and veterinary surgeons since it was first diagnosed in November
1986.
-
- The condition causes a cow's brain to degenerate and
become "spongy" in appearance.
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- It is commonly recognised to have started when cattle
were given feed made from infected animals, and led to a dramatic slump
in sales of British beef.
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- In humans, the disease causes personality change, loss
of body function, and eventually death.
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- According to researchers cases of vCJD have been in people
with a specific genetic characteristic making them susceptible.
-
- Some also say it is possible other individuals might
be vulnerable to the disease but have longer incubation periods, so that
their illness appears later.
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- © BBC MMIV
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- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3524329.stm
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