Volume 1: Findings and Conclusions
Executive Summary of the Report of the Inquiry
13. The identification of vCJD

• The Southwood Working Party noted that if BSE were to be transmitted to humans it would be likely to resemble CJD and suggested that surveillance be put in place to identify atypical cases or changing patterns of the disease.
• The task of detecting any variation in the characteristics of cases of CJD which might indicate infection with BSE was entrusted to the CJD Surveillance Unit (CJDSU), a research team of dedicated medical scientists headed by Dr Robert Will, a neurologist with extensive experience of CJD.
• No role in this was given to the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS), an established service for the surveillance of new and existing disease, among other things.
• The decision to establish a new team specifically for this purpose was vindicated by the prompt detection of the emergence of vCJD by the CJDSU.
• The conclusion reached by SEAC on 16 March 1996 that the most likely explanation for the cases of a new variant of CJD in young people was exposure to BSE has since been compellingly supported by scientific evidence.
• It should have been apparent to both MAFF and DH by early February 1996 at the latest that there was a serious possibility that the scientists would conclude that it was likely that BSE had been transmitted to humans. The two Departments should have worked together, in consultation with SEAC, to explore the possible policy options that would be available should this occur.
• There was no interdepartmental discussion or consideration of policy options within either Department until the middle of March 1996. The views of SEAC were awaited, both as to whether the cases of vCJD were linked with BSE, and as to what action should be taken if they were. This was an inadequate response.
• Under intense pressure from the Government, on 20 March 1996 SEAC advised among other things that the appropriate course was that carcasses from cattle over 30 months old should be deboned in licensed plants supervised by the Meat Hygiene Service and the trimmings classified as SBO.
• The Government immediately announced that it was accepting this advice. In doing so it was wrong-footed, for this course proved neither practicable nor acceptable to the public. A policy of banning consumption of cattle over 30 months had to be introduced instead.