All About BSE and CJD

The new type of Creutzfeldt – Jacob Disease is thought to be the human form of mad cow disease or BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).

The tiny infective bits of protein which are thought to cause both diseases is called a ‘prion’. Prions act in a funny way, because it usually takes many years between them getting into someone’s body and them actually causing an illness.

People who suffer from CJD have vague things like dizziness, tiredness, difficulty in concentration and sleeping. But all these things can occur in perfectly normal people so don’t go rushing off to your doctor each time you feel a little tired please!

The next stage of the illness when people do actually have CJD is muscle weakness, difficulty talking, unsteadiness and forgetfulness. You may have seen pictures on the tv of people with the disease - it’s not nice.

Fortunately New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease or CJD is still very rare and only occurs in about 1 person in 2 million, so you can stop really worrying now.