NEW VARIANT CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB-DISEASE

Since the report of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (nvCJD) in h umans last year, the search was on for direct evidence to link the con dition to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). The first case nvCJD was noted 10 years after the recognition of BSE in UK cattle. A direc t link is now established. There are, however, some 'protective' mecha nisms, the most important of which are the inefficiency of the gastric route of introducing the infected material, the species barrier and g enetic 'predisposition'. None of these is full proof and time will tel l whether feeding ruminants with their own species will turn out to be a major public health disaster? (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.