Only a handful of cases exist outside the U.K. Confirmation of the disease is possible only during an autopsy after death. However, depending on assumptions about the incubation period and other variables, experts said the extent of the human outbreak could range from fewer than 100, to hundreds of thousands of cases. They cautioned that the possibility that large numbers of apparently healthy persons might be incubating the disease, coupled with unknowns about the disease, raises concerns about blood and organ donations, surgery and medical diagnostic procedures. Travelers To reduce the risk of acquiring nvCJD when traveling outside the U.S., the Center for Disease Control recommends that travelers either forego eating beef and beef products, or avoid eating ground meat and instead selecting solid meat that is not on the bone. Cow symptoms Incubation ranges from two, to eight years.
Death generally occurs within six months after symptoms appear.