EWWW! Scientists Find Thousands May Be Infected With 'Mad Cow'...
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3729901.stm

Thousands may be harbouring vCJD


The scientists studied over 12,000 tissue samples
Scientists have found evidence to suggest that more people could be harbouring the human form of BSE than previously thought.
Researchers at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital and the CJD Surveillance Unit tested 12,674 appendix and tonsil samples - three showed signs of vCJD.

Extrapolating their findings to the whole population, they estimated that 3,800 Britons may harbour the disease.

The findings are published in the Journal of Pathology.

A total of 141 people have died from vCJD in the UK since the disease emerged in 1995.

I find these results very concerning

Professor John Collinge,
MRC Prion Unit


Q&A: How many are infected?
Scientists have been suggesting that the number of deaths from the disease had peaked.

A recent study by researchers at Imperial College London predicted the disease would claim no more than 540 lives.

The scientists who carried out this latest study said their findings "need to be interpreted with caution".

"There is still much to learn about vCJD and presence of the protein in these tissue samples does not necessarily mean that those affected will go on to develop vCJD," said lead researcher David Hilton.

'Taken seriously'

Professor James Ironside of the National CJD Surveillance Unit in Edinburgh said the findings suggested some people could carry the disease without ever showing any symptoms.

But he added: "I think the findings do have to be taken seriously. Generally, one has to be cautious about interpreting these data, but they may indicate that there are people who are not infected in the normal way but could represent a source of infection."


We just don't know how many people are affected

Don Simms, whose son Jonathan has vCJD


Drug trial to start within weeks
The study comes as the Medical Research Council told BBC News Online that a long-awaited trial to test potential treatments for vCJD could start within weeks.

It will examine if an anti-psychotic called quinacrine or an unlicensed drug called pentosan polysulphate can help people with the disease. Both have shown some promise in patients.

Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency is in the process of collecting 100,000 tonsil samples which will be tested for signs of vCJD.

"The larger scale of the study should provide better estimates of the number of people who may be affected," said Professor Pat Troop, the agency's chief executive.

A leading expert on vCJD said the latest estimates might be too low.

"I find these results very concerning," said Professor John Collinge, head of the MRC Prion Unit at St Mary's Hospital, in London.

"Our experience is that looking at appendix samples will underestimate the true picture."

He suggested the government should look again at whether surgeons should use disposable instruments in operations where there may be a risk of transmission, such as the removal of tonsils.

A Department of Health spokesman said it had "already put in place measures to reduce any risk of possible transmission of the disease via blood products and surgical instruments".

Don Simms, whose son Jonathan has vCJD, said the latest study showed that scientists simply did not know how many people had the disease.

"The fact is we just don't know how many people are affected. We need to find out," he told BBC News Online.

I'm not gonna eat some meat again..... maybe when the disease is over.....

This is disturbing news. :(

one good reason to go vego

moo

Anyone who has lived in England over the past fifteen years is ineligible to donate blood in Australia for this very reason :uhoh

They're not allowed to donate in the U.S. either! Same with U.S. citizens who've been in certain countries. No blood donations.

On the bright side there's some very promising anti-body treatments in the works.

On the downside that drug Quinacrine is vicious. They say it's a treatment but it's bullshit. It's an anti-psychotic drug used for sterilization and caused death and mutations. Knowing our governments they'll wanna force us to use the shit and have 3 headed kids or something.

Dman, this is not good.

Old news. :glugglug

This is bad news.:(

you only have a slight case, now if you said MMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I would be worried:Graucho

I am really happy i don't eat meat for many reasons including this. :thumbsup

omg why didn't I stop eating shit like that? It's always the same...

I always enjoyed and still enjoy a good piece of meat on my plate.

And I have no intentions of stopping.

:1orglaugh

You are addicted, like 95% :glugglug (including me :Graucho )

That and I don't give a shit about mad cow disease If I get it I get it, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna waste time worrying about it :)

I rather live well and short then long and shitty
(But I have nothing against living long and well :winkwink: )

Or eat less beef and more chicken