Variant CJD is the form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD that is often referred to as Mad Cow disease. Variant CJD is an acquired form of CJD that is related to the consumption of BSE contaminated beef.but this is not the form of CJD that affected about 35 Australians each year. Variant CJD was first recognised in the UK in 1996 and there have been now approximately 215 cases with 176 of those in the UK. There have been no identified cases of variant CJD in Australia and Australian cattle are considered to be BSE free. The majority of cases of CJD in Australia are sporadic CJD, no known cause, 10-15% genetic or inherited CJD and in very rare cases Iatrogenic or medically acquired CJD. Currently beef cannot be imported from BSE affected countries and for our safety it should remain that way.
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