Scientists warn of first ever case of human mad cow disease from blood plasma
The first case of a person being infected with the human form of mad cow disease after receiving contaminated blood plasma has been identified by scientists.
By Patrick Hennessy and Laura Donnelly Last Updated: 11:10AM GMT 15 Feb 2009
Scientists fear there could be a second wave of the human variant of mad cow disease, which was caused by cattle being fed the remains of other cattle in the 1980s Photo: EPA The man was one of thousands of haemophiliacs who received blood plasma transfusions in the years before strict controls were brought in to eliminate the spread of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).
Until now, scientists had maintained that the 4,000 people who may have received plasma from infected donors were at very low risk of developing the fatal brain disease. Warnings were issued to them as a "highly precautionary measure".
But the Health Protection Agency is expected to announce on Tuesday that an elderly man, who died from other causes, contracted vCJD from plasma.
Although vCJD has been transmitted by blood donations in the past, leading to three deaths, no cases of infection had ever been linked to plasma, which is used to clot blood. Scientists had believed the processing and dilution of the product before it is injected into patients significantly reduced the risks.
BSE expert Professor Hugh Pennington, Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology at Aberdeen University said the findings would have "significant implications" for thousands of people who had been given plasma before the dangers were suspected.
"This looks like pretty grim news for a group of people who have been through fire and water for so long; they have already had increased exposure to hepatitis B and HIV," he said.
Warnings were sent to 4,000 haemophiliacs, and patients suffering from other rare blood conditions in 2004 to warn them that they had had received transfusions from 200 batches of blood products at risk of contamination with vCJD. The plasma was collected from nine people who went on to develop the brain-wasting disease.
All 4,000 were advised not to give blood or donate organs and to warn doctors and dentists that they had been put at risk by the use of plasma.
To date, 164 people have died from vCJD in Britain, with most cases linked to eating meat infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Prof Pennington said details of the way the new link had been detected would be crucial in determining further investigations.
"There is a lot more we still need to know. The fact that this person is elderly, when most of the deaths from vCJD have been young people, and that they died from another cause, is another area for research," he said, suggesting that it might mean that the disease progressed more slowly in some people.
He said restrictions over blood donation, which mean anyone who has had a transfusion cannot donate, and that all plasma is now taken from stocks in the United States, meant the risks to those receiving blood or plasma now were "vanishingly low".
The brain-wasting disease vCJD was first detected in the mid 1990s. Most vCJD patients have been infected after eating BSE contaminated meat. The number of deaths peaked in 2000, when there were 28 deaths. That number has dropped to about five cases a year since 2005.
The epidemic of BSE in the 1980s and 1990s was caused by cattle being fed the remains of other cattle in the form of meat and bone meal, causing an infectious agent to spread.
More than 4 million cattle were slaughtered after almost 200,000 were infected with the fatal neurodegenerative disease.
Scientists recently warned that Britain could see a second wave of the vCJD, affecting as many as 300 people, after discovering that genetic differences can affect how long it takes a person to incubate the disease.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/46243 ... lasma.html
Title a bit misleading, should have probably read something like ;
>>>Scientists warn of first ever DOCUMENTED case of human mad cow disease from blood plasma<<<
WITH the many strains or phenotypes of the sporadic CJD's, plus, the NEW TSE announced last year by Gambetti et al here in the USA, it would seem prudent to a look back at all TSE suspect donors, considering the terribly poor BSE surveillance system in the USA, and especially since all strains of BSE have been documented in North America i.e. the typical UK c-BSE strain, the H and L atypical BSE strain in Canada, and the TWO cases of H type cases in Texas and Alabama, plus the one typical c-BSE imported case in Washington. anyone that does not think the L-BSE strain is in not in the USA, considering for one thing, the infamous 'enhanced june 2004 bse surveillance' was flawed from the beginning, before it was shut down just about completely, well they would only be dreaming in my opinion. considering all these factors, there is a high likelihood, also in my opinion, that the USA blood supply has been tainted with TSE for some time.
let's take another _look back_ at the nvCJD ONLY blood recalls in the USA ;
AMERICAN RED CROSS AND CDC BLOOD DONOR "LOOK BACK" STUDY
Due to the recent discovery of two cases of vCJD blood transfusion transmission in the U.K. the American Red Cross, at the October 14 FDA TSEAC meeting, announced an acceleration of their "Look Back" study implemented in 1995. In this study all blood and blood products donated to the American Red Cross by a person who subsequently died of CJD will be traced.
This "Look Back" study is a very important one for all of our families of CJD patients, past and present. If your loved one was a blood donor or a blood recipient and you wish to participate please contact one of the names listed below.
As the wife of a regular blood donor who died of CJD in 2000 I am relieved to know that this study is being given high priority by the ARC and the CDC. I know we all certainly hope that sCJD is not a vector, however, we won't know unless this research is conducted.
The recipients of any whole blood or blood product donated by a person who subsequently died of CJD will NOT be notified unless medically appropriate notification and counseling is deemed necessary by the health care provider.
Contact Information:
Kerri Dorsey, MPH 301-738-0592 E-mail: [email protected]
Shimian Zou, PhD 301-738-0644 E-mail: [email protected]
SEE CJD VOICE ;
10/24/2004 AMERICAN RED CROSS AND CDC : BLOOD DONOR "LOOK BACK" STUDY
http://creativegumbo.net/cjdvoice/newsflash.htm
Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:37 PM
"we have found that H-BSE can infect humans."
personal communication with Professor Kong. ...TSS
see full text ;
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... pdate.html
Quick Summary for the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee (TSEAC) Oct 14, 2004
In the afternoon open public hearing Peter L. Page, MD, from the American Red Cross presented their "CJD Lookback Study"; Michael Fitzpatrick, PhD, of America's Blood Centers requested FDA consider an "exit strategy" for CJD deferrals. Other presentations and comments were made by: Robert Rohwer, PhD, VA Hospital Baltimore; Merlyn Sayers, MD, PhD, Carter Blood Care; Jonathan Goldsmith, MD, Immune Deficiency Foundation and David Cavenaugh, Committee of Ten Thousand. Three written submissions to the meeting record were received including a copy of a letter from a woman in the UK to her husband's consultant regarding vCJD and questions from her for this meeting, an e-mail from Terry Singletary and an e-mail from Barbara Sachau. The major topic of the meeting was a discussion entitled, "Consideration of Current FDA-Recommended Safeguards to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) by Blood and Blood Products". In preparation for discussion of this topic the Committee listened to the following presentations:
snip...
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/ac/04/ ... inutes.pdf
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: TSE advisory committee for the meeting December 15, 2006 [TSS SUBMISSION
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 1:24 PM Subject: TSE advisory committee for the meeting December 15, 2006 [TSS SUBMISSION]
November 29, 2006
Greetings FDA, DHH, Dr. Freas, and Dr. Harvey et al,
snip... see full text ;
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Scientists warn of first ever case of human mad cow disease from blood plasma
http://vcjdtransfusion.blogspot.com/200 ... se-of.html
TSS
The first case of a person being infected with the human form of mad cow disease after receiving contaminated blood plasma has been identified by scientists.
By Patrick Hennessy and Laura Donnelly Last Updated: 11:10AM GMT 15 Feb 2009
Scientists fear there could be a second wave of the human variant of mad cow disease, which was caused by cattle being fed the remains of other cattle in the 1980s Photo: EPA The man was one of thousands of haemophiliacs who received blood plasma transfusions in the years before strict controls were brought in to eliminate the spread of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).
Until now, scientists had maintained that the 4,000 people who may have received plasma from infected donors were at very low risk of developing the fatal brain disease. Warnings were issued to them as a "highly precautionary measure".
But the Health Protection Agency is expected to announce on Tuesday that an elderly man, who died from other causes, contracted vCJD from plasma.
Although vCJD has been transmitted by blood donations in the past, leading to three deaths, no cases of infection had ever been linked to plasma, which is used to clot blood. Scientists had believed the processing and dilution of the product before it is injected into patients significantly reduced the risks.
BSE expert Professor Hugh Pennington, Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology at Aberdeen University said the findings would have "significant implications" for thousands of people who had been given plasma before the dangers were suspected.
"This looks like pretty grim news for a group of people who have been through fire and water for so long; they have already had increased exposure to hepatitis B and HIV," he said.
Warnings were sent to 4,000 haemophiliacs, and patients suffering from other rare blood conditions in 2004 to warn them that they had had received transfusions from 200 batches of blood products at risk of contamination with vCJD. The plasma was collected from nine people who went on to develop the brain-wasting disease.
All 4,000 were advised not to give blood or donate organs and to warn doctors and dentists that they had been put at risk by the use of plasma.
To date, 164 people have died from vCJD in Britain, with most cases linked to eating meat infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Prof Pennington said details of the way the new link had been detected would be crucial in determining further investigations.
"There is a lot more we still need to know. The fact that this person is elderly, when most of the deaths from vCJD have been young people, and that they died from another cause, is another area for research," he said, suggesting that it might mean that the disease progressed more slowly in some people.
He said restrictions over blood donation, which mean anyone who has had a transfusion cannot donate, and that all plasma is now taken from stocks in the United States, meant the risks to those receiving blood or plasma now were "vanishingly low".
The brain-wasting disease vCJD was first detected in the mid 1990s. Most vCJD patients have been infected after eating BSE contaminated meat. The number of deaths peaked in 2000, when there were 28 deaths. That number has dropped to about five cases a year since 2005.
The epidemic of BSE in the 1980s and 1990s was caused by cattle being fed the remains of other cattle in the form of meat and bone meal, causing an infectious agent to spread.
More than 4 million cattle were slaughtered after almost 200,000 were infected with the fatal neurodegenerative disease.
Scientists recently warned that Britain could see a second wave of the vCJD, affecting as many as 300 people, after discovering that genetic differences can affect how long it takes a person to incubate the disease.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/46243 ... lasma.html
Title a bit misleading, should have probably read something like ;
>>>Scientists warn of first ever DOCUMENTED case of human mad cow disease from blood plasma<<<
WITH the many strains or phenotypes of the sporadic CJD's, plus, the NEW TSE announced last year by Gambetti et al here in the USA, it would seem prudent to a look back at all TSE suspect donors, considering the terribly poor BSE surveillance system in the USA, and especially since all strains of BSE have been documented in North America i.e. the typical UK c-BSE strain, the H and L atypical BSE strain in Canada, and the TWO cases of H type cases in Texas and Alabama, plus the one typical c-BSE imported case in Washington. anyone that does not think the L-BSE strain is in not in the USA, considering for one thing, the infamous 'enhanced june 2004 bse surveillance' was flawed from the beginning, before it was shut down just about completely, well they would only be dreaming in my opinion. considering all these factors, there is a high likelihood, also in my opinion, that the USA blood supply has been tainted with TSE for some time.
let's take another _look back_ at the nvCJD ONLY blood recalls in the USA ;
AMERICAN RED CROSS AND CDC BLOOD DONOR "LOOK BACK" STUDY
Due to the recent discovery of two cases of vCJD blood transfusion transmission in the U.K. the American Red Cross, at the October 14 FDA TSEAC meeting, announced an acceleration of their "Look Back" study implemented in 1995. In this study all blood and blood products donated to the American Red Cross by a person who subsequently died of CJD will be traced.
This "Look Back" study is a very important one for all of our families of CJD patients, past and present. If your loved one was a blood donor or a blood recipient and you wish to participate please contact one of the names listed below.
As the wife of a regular blood donor who died of CJD in 2000 I am relieved to know that this study is being given high priority by the ARC and the CDC. I know we all certainly hope that sCJD is not a vector, however, we won't know unless this research is conducted.
The recipients of any whole blood or blood product donated by a person who subsequently died of CJD will NOT be notified unless medically appropriate notification and counseling is deemed necessary by the health care provider.
Contact Information:
Kerri Dorsey, MPH 301-738-0592 E-mail: [email protected]
Shimian Zou, PhD 301-738-0644 E-mail: [email protected]
SEE CJD VOICE ;
10/24/2004 AMERICAN RED CROSS AND CDC : BLOOD DONOR "LOOK BACK" STUDY
http://creativegumbo.net/cjdvoice/newsflash.htm
Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:37 PM
"we have found that H-BSE can infect humans."
personal communication with Professor Kong. ...TSS
see full text ;
http://bse-atypical.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... pdate.html
Quick Summary for the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee (TSEAC) Oct 14, 2004
In the afternoon open public hearing Peter L. Page, MD, from the American Red Cross presented their "CJD Lookback Study"; Michael Fitzpatrick, PhD, of America's Blood Centers requested FDA consider an "exit strategy" for CJD deferrals. Other presentations and comments were made by: Robert Rohwer, PhD, VA Hospital Baltimore; Merlyn Sayers, MD, PhD, Carter Blood Care; Jonathan Goldsmith, MD, Immune Deficiency Foundation and David Cavenaugh, Committee of Ten Thousand. Three written submissions to the meeting record were received including a copy of a letter from a woman in the UK to her husband's consultant regarding vCJD and questions from her for this meeting, an e-mail from Terry Singletary and an e-mail from Barbara Sachau. The major topic of the meeting was a discussion entitled, "Consideration of Current FDA-Recommended Safeguards to Reduce the Possible Risk of Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) by Blood and Blood Products". In preparation for discussion of this topic the Committee listened to the following presentations:
snip...
http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/ac/04/ ... inutes.pdf
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: TSE advisory committee for the meeting December 15, 2006 [TSS SUBMISSION
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 1:24 PM Subject: TSE advisory committee for the meeting December 15, 2006 [TSS SUBMISSION]
November 29, 2006
Greetings FDA, DHH, Dr. Freas, and Dr. Harvey et al,
snip... see full text ;
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Scientists warn of first ever case of human mad cow disease from blood plasma
http://vcjdtransfusion.blogspot.com/200 ... se-of.html
TSS
