Volume 8: Variant CJD
5. Emergence of variant CJD
Discussion on the work of the CJD Surveillance Unit (CJDSU)
Introduction

5.1 The announcement by the Government on 20 March 1996 regarding the possible link between BSE and a new variant of CJD followed consideration by the CJDSU of cases of CJD in people associated with farming and in young people. This chapter describes these cases and provides a chronological account of the CJDSU's work leading up to the announcement. In this chapter we have identified by letter patients under 50 referred to the CJDSU before 20 March 1996. The annex to this chapter gives further information.

5.2 The final section of this chapter describes the main findings of the CJDSU, the evidence for a causal link between vCJD and BSE, and the predictions that have been made about the future incidence of vCJD.