Written question asked by Christopher Gill (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 October 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 November 2000. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 November 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what evidence his Department has obtained that links new variant CJD in humans with BSE in cattle. - (Holding answer 31 October 2000).

Answer: Mr. Gill: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has obtained that links new variant CJD in humans with BSE in cattle. [135915] Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 31 October 2000]: I have been asked to reply. We are advised on all matters relating to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC). At its meeting in March 1999, SEAC advised that BSE and vCJD were caused by a closely similar prion strain, and concluded that variant CJD was an acquired prion disease caused by exposure to BSE or a BSE like agent.

Secondary information