Prevention of cross infection in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD)

Abstract

Currently there is inadequate information available to be sure of either the risks involved in vCJD or the effectiveness of practices that may prevent these risks. However, simply because the disease is fatal and has no treatment, we must estimate the risks using information that is available and take actions that would seem reasonable for the costs and work that may be incurred. Currently it is not possible to use the adequate evidence based practices (Ayliffe 2000) that we are used to and, seemingly valueless actions at this time may need to be taken. Most of the cases of vCJD we will see were already infected in 1989 when it became apparent that the risk from food was unacceptably high. Similarly infection control precautions in humans may need to be taken well in advance of the proof of their value and as such we must demonstrate from information that we have available that these practices are reasonable.