In a message dated 2/22/00 6:26:26 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< We were also told that there had been no cases of transmission of CJD
through blood, but that theoretically it was possible..... and that it was
thought that 10% of cases of CJD were inherited (thus the deferral if a
blood relative had the disease).
If someone donated blood and it was later determined that they developed
CJD, their blood would have to be tracked and the recipients notified, or if
not used, the blood would be destroyed.
 >>

There was an article in our local (Palm Beach Florida) newspaper  just this
past Saturday about a woman who had indeed gotten CJD from donated blood
plasma.  She is now in her mid 40's and was notified in 1996 about the
possiblity of infection from a blood donor.  There has still not been any
proven case of the disease spread by blood transfusion, according to the
article.  The reason for the article was that the woman was suing the blood
product manufacturer and the distributor for giving her a life-threatening
illness.  Apparently, the FDA first notified the blood product companies in
1995 about the recall, but the companies did not issue a notice of same to
doctors until June of 1996 (six days before this woman got her gamma
globulin).  Meanwhile, she waits for the disease to start presenting itself
to her, which must be an awful thing to have to live with.

Lisa Jones in Wellington Florida, USA, north of Miami and west of Palm Beach

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