Volume 6: Human Health, 1989-96
7. Human health developments from January 1996 to 20 March 1996
Two further cases in people under 30 years of age confirmed

7.108 On 8 January 1996 diagnosis of CJD was confirmed in two further young cases, bringing the figure up to seven cases under the age of 30 years. ¹ The next day a meeting was held of all the UK CMOs to discuss, among other matters, the 'line to take' regarding BSE and CJD in the light of increased press speculation on a possible link. ² It does not appear that the more recent cases of CJD in people under 30 were discussed at the meeting. Under the heading 'CJD and teenagers' the note of the meeting stated:

It is not possible to draw conclusions about the cases of two teenagers recently reported in the Lancet because cases of sporadic CJD in teenagers, although rare, have been found in other countries before the appearance of BSE and the two cases had no exposure to risk factors for CJD and no contact with BSE. ³

7.109 On 9 January 1996, in preparation for a forthcoming parliamentary debate on BSE and CJD on 10 January, Mr Skinner minuted Mrs Browning (Parliamentary Secretary, MAFF) with a Q&A briefing for use during the debate. ⁴ The minute covered CJD (general), government action on CJD (including research), CJD incidence and surveillance, BSE and CJD risks to human health, and CJD deaths in four farmers, two teenagers and an abattoir worker. ⁵

7.110 The briefing stated that there was no evidence to suggest that there was an emerging CJD epidemic. It explained that the 50 per cent increase in cases of sporadic CJD in one year (from 35 in 1993 to 53 in 1994) and a 100 per cent increase since 1990 (26 cases) could be explained by the fact that monitoring of CJD had become more intensive. It also added that there was no current scientific evidence that BSE could be transmitted to humans. ⁶

7.111 The brief also pointed out that, although there had been four cases of CJD in UK farmers, there was no conclusive evidence that particular occupations were at increased risk; but that the situation was being monitored. On the cases of the two teenagers with CJD it was stated that it was not possible to draw conclusions:

. . . because cases of sporadic CJD in teenagers, although rare, have been found in other countries before the appearance of BSE and the two cases had no exposure to risk factors for CJD and no contact with BSE. ⁷

7.112 In relation to the possible case of CJD in an abattoir worker, the briefing stated 'this possible case is being investigated by the National CJD Surveillance Unit and SEAC considered the available information at its meeting on 5 January'. ⁸ The briefing did mention that CJD tended to present in late middle age but did not make any mention of the more recent occurrences of CJD in people under 30 in the UK.

7.113 The briefing reiterated that one of the measures to safeguard public health was the exclusion of SBO from the human or animal food chain. ⁹

7.114 The adjournment debate on 10 January 1996 focused on slaughterhouse practice. ¹⁰ Mr David Hinchliffe (Labour MP Wakefield) expressed concern about how seriously the Government was treating public concern about BSE and the possible connections with CJD. He stated that the Government had introduced the ban on specified offal as a precautionary measure alongside assurances that any health risk to humans from beef was remote, but that compliance and enforcement of the regulations was insufficient. He quoted:

Government statements to the effect that the state veterinary service made unannounced visits to 193 abattoirs [in the previous] September and found failings in the handling of offal in 92 of them. The service [had] visited 153 in October and found failings in 52.

7.115 In response, Mrs Angela Browning (Minister for Food, MAFF) stated that:

The Government's position on BSE and CJD is based on listening to the experts and following the advice of the independent advisory committees, which are made up of leading experts. The opinion of the overwhelming majority of those experts working on BSE and CJD . . . is that the Government's actions are not only prudent but sufficient to protect the safety of people who eat beef and bovine products. I must say that we have always taken the advice of the SEAC and put it into the public domain as quickly as possible.

7.116 On slaughterhouse practice she explained:

We have recently, for example, taken action to ensure that specified bovine offal is properly stained, separated and disposed of quite separately from materials which might enter either the human food chain or animal feed. ¹¹