Volume 6: Human Health, 1989-96
7. Human health developments from January 1996 to 20 March 1996
Introduction

7.1 This chapter covers the final months of the period with which this Inquiry is concerned. During these months, the CJD Surveillance Unit (CJDSU) was assessing the significance of the growing number of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) cases being identified in young people. These deliberations were reported to the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) on 5 January 1996, 1 February 1996 and 8 March 1996. At the last of these meetings, the information supplied by the CJDSU indicated that a new variant of CJD had emerged and raised the possibility that this was related to BSE.

7.2 By 16 March 1996, SEAC had concluded, and advised Ministers accordingly, that the most likely explanation of the cases of CJD in young people was exposure to BSE before the introduction of the Specified Bovine Offal (SBO) ban in 1989. ¹ A detailed description of the work and deliberations of the CJDSU can be found in vol. 8: Variant CJD. The formation, terms of reference and the deliberations of SEAC are covered in vol. 11: Scientists after Southwood.

7.3 In this chapter we examine the reaction of the Government to the developing situation both before and after 8 March 1996. During the final days leading up to 20 March there was frantic activity. This provides a contrasting picture to that of January and February when, as contemporary documents show, BSE was less of a concern within MAFF and DH. We examine the extent to which the information provided to SEAC during January and February alerted officials and their Ministers to forthcoming events. Insofar as it did, we consider whether the response was adequate, and insofar as it did not, we examine why this may have been the case. Consideration is also given to the action taken and public statements made in the last few days of the account. We ask whether there was an adequate response to the situation at this stage and whether the delay in responding to the crisis affected matters.

7.4 Before turning to these matters, we continue to chart events from the last chapter. There we described attempts by government and the Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC) to allay concerns about the safety of beef. Further steps to achieve this continued to be taken in 1996. We question whether this was appropriate in the circumstances and explore whether these events also shed light on the extent to which those involved appreciated the storm that was about to break.