Variant CJD And Blood Transfusion

Until recently the risk of developing CJD as a consequence of a blood transfusion was a theoretical concern. However, in December 2003 a patient died from vCJD after receiving a blood transfusion from a donor who subsequently also had vCJD. Since then, three further patients have been identified. One patient died of an unrelated condition, but a post mortem examination established that the abnormal form of the prion protein was present in their body.