Can variant CJD be transmitted by casual contact or other means?
Scientists do not believe that variant CJD can be transmitted through casual contact, like touching or kissing, or even intimate (sexual) contact with a person with the disease. Because variant CJD is a relatively new disease, how it is transmitted is not well understood. If the disease is transmitted in the same way as classical CJD, it may theoretically be possible for it to spread following exposure to medical devices used on a person subsequently diagnosed with variant CJD and through transplants. The tissues that are most infectious include the brain, spinal cord, pituitary gland and some parts of the eye. In variant CJD, other tissues such as the tonsils and appendix have also been found to be infective, in contrast with classical CJD.
