Page "Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease" Paragraph 19

In 2004 a new report published in the Lancet medical journal showed that vCJD can be transmitted by blood transfusions.

The finding alarmed healthcare officials because a large epidemic of the disease could result in the near future.

There is no test to determine if a blood donor is infected with vCJD.

In reaction to this report, the UK government banned anyone who had received a blood transfusion since January 1980 from donating blood.

From 1999 there has been a ban in the UK for using UK blood to manufacture fractional products such as albumin.