Date: Thu 18 Apr 2002
From: Greg Folkers <GFOLKERS@niaid.nih.gov>
Source: Florida Department of Health, press release, Fri 19 Apr 2002[edited]
<http://www.doh.state.fl.us/communications/office/pressreleases/2002/4>
Suspected Imported Case of vCJD in
22-year-old Florida Woman
The Florida Secretary Of Health, John O. Agwunobi, M.D.,
M.B.A., issued the following statement on Fri 19 Apr 2002.
The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a possible case of
variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease [abbreviated as CJD (new var.) or (vCJD) in
ProMED-mail] in a 22-year-old female Florida resident. We have determined this
to be a suspected case of imported vCJD from the United Kingdom. All evidence
indicates that her illness poses no threat to the public or agriculture
industry in Florida and the rest of the United States.
Again, all of our information leads us to believe the
affected individual represents a case of imported vCJD. While living in the
United Kingdom, we believe the young woman was exposed to and contracted the
disease more than a decade ago.
Although experience with this new disease is limited, all
existing evidence indicates that it cannot be spread through the air or by
physical contact. The Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services and the CDC are working closely together to
gather more facts about this case. Updates will be provided as more
information becomes available.
We urge the media and public to join the FDOH in protecting
the privacy of the affected individual and her family during this most
difficult time. More information and important web links on the disease, vCJD,
can be found on the FDOH website:
<http://www9.myflorida.com/Disease_ctrl/epi/htopics/popups/cjd.htm>
In the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, this
disease of humans called vCJD has been associated with a disease of cattle
called Mad Cow Disease, also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).
BSE has never been detected anywhere in the USA or Florida. Florida residents
wishing to ask questions about vCJD may call their local county health
department toll-free at 1-800-480-7738.
