Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

1
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

• Classic CJD occurs worldwide at 1-2 cases per
  million population per year
• In people over 50, the annual rate is about 3.4
  per million per year
• The United States reports about 300 cases of CJD
  a year
• For 2008, there were 4 cases of CJD in Tennessee,
  fewer than the expected number for our population

2
Roane County CJD

• TDH East Region officials investigated a
  confirmed case of classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob
  Disease and a second probable case of CJD in
  another person in Roane County
• Next-of-kin interviewed to rule out CJD
  transmission that can rarely occur during medical
  procedures
• Neither patient had a history of high-risk
  procedures (corneal transplant, use of human
  growth hormone)
• No evidence of hospital transmission
• No travel outside the United States
• Final diagnosis for the second patient available
  in several weeks

3
Publicity and Concerns

• Local rumors about variant CJD (vCJD)
• vCJD never contracted in the U.S.
• Overseas, has been contracted in people who ate
  beef products from cattle infected with bovine
  spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), (mad cow
  disease.)
• Only 3 cases of vCJD ever reported in the United
  States
• All 3 occurred in people who were born overseas
  and spent substantial amounts of time in the
  United Kingdom or the Middle East.
• CEDS director for the East Region, Cathy Goff,
  was available at the Roane County Health Council
  meeting on March 24th, to discuss CJD and answer
  questions.