Are Canadians at risk of contracting variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (variant CJD)?
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a disease in cattle that has been implicated in the development of the human version of mad cow disease, called variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (vCJD). • Variant CJD is a disease caused by an abnormal form of a protein known as a prion that collects in the central nervous tissue and causes the nerve cells to die. • We know that processed meat products made from cows infected with BSE present a risk for transmitting the disease. • Information from the investigation to date suggests that the risks to human health are extremely low. • Health Canada will continue to analyse emerging information to assess any implications on the health of Canadians. Q2: What advice is Health Canada giving to Canadians? Should Canadians avoid eating beef? • The information provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) indicates that one cow was infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and that it has not entered the food supply. • Information
