Behind The Headlines: Plasma products linked to vCJD risk.(Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease)

The DoH is informing 6,000 people that they may have been exposed to vCJD, writes Monika Polak.

What is the story?

The spectre of BSE returned last week with national newspapers reporting that 6,000 people were being informed by the DoH that they might have been exposed to the human form of vCJD.

The reports explained that these individuals were being contacted after a risk assessment exercise on the likelihood of vCJD contaminating the UK's donated blood supply. Those now deemed to be at risk are people who received blood plasma products derived from blood from someone who has developed vCJD.

What is the background?

There have been two cases in the UK …