It was first identified in March 1996 in the UK, when 10 cases of a new disease with neurological symptoms were reported and soon associated with the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), “mad cow ”-disease.
See tuvastati esmakordselt Ühendkuningriigis 1996. aasta märtsis, kui teatati neuroloogiliste sümptomitega uue haiguse 10 juhust. Peagi seostati haigust veiste spongiformse entsefalopaatiaga (BSE) ehk nn hullulehmatõvega.