by Playfuls Staff |
27th March 2006
Scottish researchers say thousands more people may be at risk of contracting the human equivalent of mad cow disease. The Times of London reports the number of people exposed to variant-Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease is much greater than assumed. [more]
Some 161 cases of vCJD were reported in Britain in the 1980s and 1990s, and 30 elsewhere in the world. However, scientists from the Institute for Animal Health in Edinburgh estimate the number of potential cases could top 14,000.
The disease is caused by rogue prions that turn the brain spongy. It is believed people contract it through eating contaminated beef products.
The Scotsman reported the researchers found vCJD could be passed among humans through secondary sources like transfusions.
The research was published online Monday by The Lancet Neurolog.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
