Experts to pool ideas on response to vCJD

EXPERTS will meet today to discuss how to treat about 4,000 apparently healthy people told they are "at risk" of getting the deadly human form of mad cow disease.

The potential sufferers were identified by the Edinburgh-based National CJD Surveillance Unit based on blood transfusion records, but it is not known for certain whether they will actually get the disease.

There is currently no test to show whether or not they are infected, although research is being done to develop one.

The Scotsman understands that the CJD Clinical Governance Advisory Group (CGAG) will meet for the first time today after being set up by the Department of Health to give advice on monitoring, care and ways to "better understand the disease".

Some of the 4,000 received transfusions from people who then developed variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD). Others donated blood to people who then developed it.

It is thought some people may carry the incurable disease while seeming perfectly healthy.

In its remit to the committee, the Department of Health said: "There are now a significant number of people identified as 'at risk' [of developing vCJD] and given that the numbers identified may grow, the department has set-up the CGAG to review the current arrangements."

It asks the group, which includes lay people, neurologists and blood transfusion service staff to advise on "follow-up care and support... [and] on the appropriate monitoring of these individuals, taking account of their views, and to better understand the disease".

The document, which was obtained by The Scotsman, adds: "These individuals have different degrees of risk of potentially developing vCJD."