Starting soon, every tonsil taken out in British hospitals will be sent to health laboratories for testing. Since British surgeons perform untold thousands of tonsillectomies each year, the prion status of a significant percentage of Britain's population is about to become known. The new testing technology is forcing many scientists and government officials to contemplate worst-case scenarios. Already, in Britain's highest scientific circles, there is serious discussion about keeping infection rates secret. Moreover, some scientists are suggesting that test results should be withheld even from people who have tested positive for the prion.
New Scientist is one of the scientific community's most highly regarded periodicals.
There are no drugs that prevent prions making mischief in humans, nor is there any evidence that diet or exercise can improve your chances in the way it might with a predisposition to heart disease. The editorial is correct that, unlike with AIDS, there may be no benefit in slowing the spread of the disease by letting people know their status. Barring cannibalism, prions appear unable to spread from one person to another, even by sexual contact. Yet it's hard to believe that the editorial writer really has the victim's best interests at heart in arguing to keep test results hidden. Nobody doubts that being told you've tested positive for nvCJD would be terrifying news.