No one yet knows how big the new variant CJD epidemic will be. If the peak is occurring now, it is good news. But if the end of the incubation period for most victims has not been reached there could be a sudden flood of new cases. The worst case scenario is an epidemic as bad as Aids and HIV, claiming up to 500,000 victims early in the next century. CJD, like BSE, is a poorly understood condition that attacks the brain, leaving it full of holes like a bath sponge.
Victims show symptoms of dementia, becoming unsteady, confused and losing their memories.
Death normally occurs after about six months. An explosion of CJD cases may have enormous implications for social services and resources. The Department of Health need to develop cross-agency policies between health and social services to ensure proper care for people with this deadly disease. The worst case scenario is an epidemic as bad as Aids and HIV, claiming up to 500,000 victims early in the next century. CJD, like BSE, is a poorly understood condition that attacks the brain, leaving it full of holes like a bath sponge.