Thousands of bleeding disorder patients could have been infected
Thousands of people have been exposed to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) through infected blood products, according to the CJD Incidents Panel. It has revealed that 4,000 people, mostly haemophiliacs and those with other bleeding disorders, may have contracted the disease.
Individuals thought to be at risk have been informed that they have, in the past, received plasma products that were derived from blood donated by people who went on to develop vCJD. A further 2,000 patients have also been contacted to ensure they are kept fully informed about the situation, although they are not directly affected.
The notification offers guidance on how to minimise the chance of passing on the infection by , for example, abstaining from blood, tissue or organ donation. Those affected are also advised to inform doctors and dentists that they have been exposed to vCJD infected blood if they undergo treatment.
The announcement comes in response to two reported cases since December 2003, in which vCJD was passed on by blood transfusion. However, the CJD Incidents Panel has stressed that the measures are "highly precautionary" and that "any additional risk to these people is very small".
The plasma from the infected donors was used to manufacture products such as clotting agents in pools of many thousands of donations, significantly reducing the risk of vCJD being passed on. Those who received direct transfusions of 'whole blood' from infected donors were contacted earlier in the year.
Commenting, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, Sir Liam Donaldson, said: "This risk assessment identifies three groups of patients who need to know that they may be at a small increased risk of developing vCJD than the rest of the population."
