100 blood donors may have human 'mad cow disease'
LOUISE GRAY
MORE than 100 blood donors are being warned they could have the human form of mad cow disease, the government said yesterday.
Concern that some blood donors may be carrying the disease arose after three recipients went on to develop variant CJD.
The donors do not necessarily have the disease, but will be told in letters from health officials they have a greater chance than the rest of the population.
They will also be asked not to donate blood, tissue or organs and to inform doctors so extra precautions can be taken should they need to have surgery.
There are six Scots among the 110 donors. All will be offered counselling to cope with the news.
It is possible that up to 3,000 other patients, who received blood from the donors but have not shown signs of vCJD, could be contacted in future, but experts are still considering what measures to take.
Health chiefs stressed there was no evidence the incurable condition is contracted through the blood.
But a growing number of cases have been linked to blood transfusions from an infected donor.
Dr Aileen Keel, the deputy chief medical officer, said: "Although there is no proven link to these six donors, it is sensible that we take precautionary measures to protect the public."
However, Keith Thompson, the director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, urged donors to not be put off by the vCJD scare.
He said: "Blood donors are highly committed to helping other people and we greatly value their contribution."
In December 2003, the government announced the first case of a patient who died from vCJD after receiving blood from an infected donor, which was thought to be the first person-to-person transmission of vCJD in the world.
In response to that, anyone who had received a blood transfusion since January 1980 was banned from donating blood in the future.
In 2004, another case emerged of a blood transfusion patient who was later found to be carrying vCJD, although the person died from other causes.
The patient received a transfusion in 1999 from a donor who later developed vCJD.
There is currently no reliable test to screen blood for vCJD, making it impossible to tell if someone without symptoms is carrying the agent.
It is also not known how long someone can carry vCJD before becoming ill and it is possible some people will never develop symptoms.
