Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseasePrevention




Sterilisation methods used to help prevent bacteria and viruses spreading also aren't completely effective against the infectious protein (prion) that causes CJD.


There are also measures in place to prevent variant CJD spreading through the food chain and the supply of blood used for blood transfusions.

Protecting the food chain

Since the link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or "mad cow" disease) and variant CJD was confirmed, strict controls have been in place to stop BSE entering the human food chain.

These controls include:

  • a ban on mechanically recovered meat (meat residue left on the carcass that's pressure-blasted off the bones)

Blood transfusions

In the UK, there have been 4 cases where variant CJD has been transmitted by blood transfusion.


Three of the 4 recipients went on to develop variant CJD, while the fourth recipient died before developing variant CJD but was found to be infected following a post-mortem examination.



These steps include:

  • not accepting donations from people who have received a blood transfusion in the UK since 1980

Page last reviewed: 14/06/2018
Next review due: 14/06/2021