1-14 of 14 results for subject:CJD
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- subject_t:CJD OR subject_t:"Creutzfeldt Jacob disease" OR subject_t:"Creutzfeldt Jakob disease" OR subject_t:"Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease" OR subject_t:"Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease" OR subject_ses:9195
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the presence of vCJD prions in sheep.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the presence of vCJD prions in sheep.
vCJD prions have not been found to be present in sheep.
There is conclusive scientific evidence that sheep as a species is not infected with a prion that causes new vCJD. Nevertheless, certain regulations relating to sheep, such as the compulsory splitting of carcases over 1 year old and the ban on on-farm burial, are based on the belief that sheep are so infected. What will the Minister do to take forward an investigation to ensure that these costly regulations can be brought to an end?
There is conclusive scientific evidence that sheep as a species is not infected with a prion that causes new vCJD. Nevertheless, certain regulations relating to sheep, such as the compulsory splitting of carcases over 1 year old and the ban on on-farm burial, are based on the belief that sheep are so infected. What will the Minister do to take forward an investigation to ensure that these costly regulations can be brought to an end?
My hon. Friend makes a valid point, because no vCJD prions have been found to be present in sheep. The European Food Safety Authority looked at this issue in 2010 and concluded that the spinal cord from sheep aged over 12 months should still be removed as a precautionary measure. However, we are investigating alternative methods of spinal cord removal that do not require splitting the carcase, and continuing to raise with the Commission the case for reviewing the current controls.
My hon. Friend makes a valid point, because no vCJD prions have been found to be present in sheep. The European Food Safety Authority looked at this issue in 2010 and concluded that the spinal cord from sheep aged over 12 months should still be removed as a precautionary measure. However, we are investigating alternative methods of spinal cord removal that do not require splitting the carcase, and continuing to raise with the Commission the case for reviewing the current controls.
My hon. Friend makes a valid point, because no vCJD prions have been found to be present in sheep. The European Food Safety Authority looked at this issue in 2010 and concluded that the spinal cord from sheep aged over 12 months should still be removed as a precautionary measure. However, we are investigating alternative methods of spinal cord removal that do not require splitting the carcase, and continuing to raise with the Commission the case for reviewing the current controls.
There is conclusive scientific evidence that sheep as a species is not infected with a prion that causes new vCJD. Nevertheless, certain regulations relating to sheep, such as the compulsory splitting of carcases over 1 year old and the ban on on-farm burial, are based on the belief that sheep are so infected. What will the Minister do to take forward an investigation to ensure that these costly regulations can be brought to an end?
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department has put in place to monitor the number of people who carry the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease;
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department has put in place to monitor the number of people who carry the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease;
The presence of abnormal prion protein is currently taken as a marker for asymptomatic carriage of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or for symptomatic infection. A recent study to assess carriage by looking at stored appendix tissue samples, first published in the Health Protection Report in August 2012, found abnormal prion protein in 16 appendices out of 32,441 samples. This suggests a prevalence of about 1 in 2,000.
There is no monitoring of people who may carry the abnormal prion protein; all appendix prevalence studies are anonymised.
No routine screening can yet take place as there are no suitable validated screening tests for abnormal prion protein available. The Department, together with the United Kingdom Blood Services, continues to monitor, scientific research and development in this area.
(2) when he plans that screening of the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease will be introduced;
Mark Tami:
(2) when he plans that screening of the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease will be introduced;
Mark Tami:
The presence of abnormal prion protein is currently taken as a marker for asymptomatic carriage of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or for symptomatic infection. A recent study to assess carriage by looking at stored appendix tissue samples, first published in the Health Protection Report in August 2012, found abnormal prion protein in 16 appendices out of 32,441 samples. This suggests a prevalence of about 1 in 2,000.
There is no monitoring of people who may carry the abnormal prion protein; all appendix prevalence studies are anonymised.
No routine screening can yet take place as there are no suitable validated screening tests for abnormal prion protein available. The Department, together with the United Kingdom Blood Services, continues to monitor, scientific research and development in this area.
(3) what assessment he has made of the number of people who carry the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Mark Tami:
(3) what assessment he has made of the number of people who carry the abnormal prion protein which causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Mark Tami:
The presence of abnormal prion protein is currently taken as a marker for asymptomatic carriage of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or for symptomatic infection. A recent study to assess carriage by looking at stored appendix tissue samples, first published in the Health Protection Report in August 2012, found abnormal prion protein in 16 appendices out of 32,441 samples. This suggests a prevalence of about 1 in 2,000.
There is no monitoring of people who may carry the abnormal prion protein; all appendix prevalence studies are anonymised.
No routine screening can yet take place as there are no suitable validated screening tests for abnormal prion protein available. The Department, together with the United Kingdom Blood Services, continues to monitor, scientific research and development in this area.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the commutation policy with regard to relations of deceased sufferers of variant CJD;
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the commutation policy with regard to relations of deceased sufferers of variant CJD;
No claims have been settled out of court by the Department in relation to variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (vCJD).
The vCJD Trust, set up by Government in 2000, disburses no-fault compensation to vCJD patients and their families. The latest available figures, 12 September 2013, show that the trust has paid out £41,078,281 in compensation.
Since March 2012, it is the trust’s policy to increase the basic sum payable to each case, from an initial figure of £120,000, by 2% annually. As of March 2013, the sum payable is £124,848.
(2) how many claims against his Department made by relations of victims of variant CJD have been settled out of court in the most recent period for which records are available.
Mr Gray:
(2) how many claims against his Department made by relations of victims of variant CJD have been settled out of court in the most recent period for which records are available.
Mr Gray:
No claims have been settled out of court by the Department in relation to variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (vCJD).
The vCJD Trust, set up by Government in 2000, disburses no-fault compensation to vCJD patients and their families. The latest available figures, 12 September 2013, show that the trust has paid out £41,078,281 in compensation.
Since March 2012, it is the trust’s policy to increase the basic sum payable to each case, from an initial figure of £120,000, by 2% annually. As of March 2013, the sum payable is £124,848.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the incidence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in the UK sheep flock has been in each of the last 10 years for which data is available.
[158834]
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the incidence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in the UK sheep flock has been in each of the last 10 years for which data is available.
[158834]
[holding answer 12 June 2013]: All cases of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) confirmed in the UK sheep flock between 2003 and 2012 have been either classical or atypical scrapie. Cases by year are given in the following table:
| Classical
scrapie | Atypical
scrapie | Total | |
| 2003 | 444 | 52 | 496 |
| 2004 | 337 | 16 | 353 |
| 2005 | 229 | 25 | 254 |
| 2006 | 157 | 49 | 206 |
| 2007 | 37 | 36 | 73 |
| 2008 | 9 | 12 | 21 |
| 2009 | 9 | 25 | 34 |
| 2010 | 1 | 19 | 20 |
| 2011 | 491 | 23 | 72 |
| 2012 | 2 | 29 | 31 |
| 1
44 classical scrapie cases in 2011 came from a single
flock. |
(2) what his latest estimate is of the number of people in the UK who may be unknowing carriers of vCJD.
[155373]
Mr Mike Hancock:
(2) what his latest estimate is of the number of people in the UK who may be unknowing carriers of vCJD.
[155373]
Mr Mike Hancock:
A recent study of stored tissue samples, published in the Health Protection Report in August 2012, found abnormal prion protein in 16 appendices out of 32,441 samples. This suggests a prevalence of about one in 2,000, which remains statistically consistent with results from an earlier appendix survey.
This estimate measures the prevalence of abnormal prion protein in appendix tissues within the population covered. We cannot know for certain whether this is a good indicator of risk in relation to potential blood-borne routes of infection, such that blood taken from donors with abnormal prion protein in appendix tissue would transmit prion infection. However, risk assessments, prepared for the independent scientific Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP), are based on the presumption that this could occur. In February 2013, ACDP agreed and published an updated variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) and blood components risk assessment, which takes into account the recent prevalence study data. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library, and is publicly available on the Department's website.
The prevalence of infective blood donors remains unknown. Not all individuals in the study would be of an age eligible to donate blood, nor is it clear whether presence of abnormal prion protein in tissues such as the appendix indicates that the blood of such a donor would transmit vCJD. Precautionary measures are assessed in the context of the fundamental uncertainties about prevalence.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when screening for vCJD will be available to families who have been affected by it;
[155371]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when screening for vCJD will be available to families who have been affected by it;
[155371]
At present, there are no validated blood screening tests for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The Department, together with the United Kingdom blood services, continues to monitor scientific research and development in this area.
(2) when he proposes that a vCJD blood screening test will be implemented to screen all UK blood donors.
[155374]
Mr Mike Hancock:
(2) when he proposes that a vCJD blood screening test will be implemented to screen all UK blood donors.
[155374]
Mr Mike Hancock:
At present, there are no validated blood screening tests for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The Department, together with the United Kingdom blood services, continues to monitor scientific research and development in this area.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many silent carriers of vCJD there are in the UK; and how many of those could be potential blood donors;
[155372]
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many silent carriers of vCJD there are in the UK; and how many of those could be potential blood donors;
[155372]
A recent study of stored tissue samples, published in the Health Protection Report in August 2012, found abnormal prion protein in 16 appendices out of 32,441 samples. This suggests a prevalence of about one in 2,000, which remains statistically consistent with results from an earlier appendix survey.
This estimate measures the prevalence of abnormal prion protein in appendix tissues within the population covered. We cannot know for certain whether this is a good indicator of risk in relation to potential blood-borne routes of infection, such that blood taken from donors with abnormal prion protein in appendix tissue would transmit prion infection. However, risk assessments, prepared for the independent scientific Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP), are based on the presumption that this could occur. In February 2013, ACDP agreed and published an updated variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) and blood components risk assessment, which takes into account the recent prevalence study data. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library, and is publicly available on the Department's website.
The prevalence of infective blood donors remains unknown. Not all individuals in the study would be of an age eligible to donate blood, nor is it clear whether presence of abnormal prion protein in tissues such as the appendix indicates that the blood of such a donor would transmit vCJD. Precautionary measures are assessed in the context of the fundamental uncertainties about prevalence.