The Guardian A relative of the former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Paddy Ashdown died from the human form of BSE an inquest was told yesterday, as scientists revealed that the 100th British victim of the incurable disease had been identified. Mr Armsted, a computer-aided design operator from Lympstone, died last month and is among 94 variant CJD sufferers to have died. Six are still alive. The coroner said symptoms were first noted in March last year, and expert opinion suggested that infection was via random consumption of a contaminated meat product. Ten people are thought to have died so far this year.
Every additional case is of great concern.
The committee wants those who care for the elderly to monitor more closely those who die of dementia-like diseases. It is speculated that younger people are either more susceptible or more likely to have eaten high risk meat before anti-BSE controls were introduced. France has had three vCJD victims and Ireland one.