Since the beginning of the year, the state of Florida has reported one confirmed and one probable case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), and both cases are from Hillsborough County, according to state data.
The confirmed case was reported from Tampa in January, while a probable case was reported from Valrico, in eastern Hillsborough County last month.
In 2015, 21 confirmed and eight probable CJD cases were reported in the state from 20 counties with three cases reported in Hillsborough County.
LISTEN: Prion diseases and the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation
CJD is a rare brain disease that affects approximately one person per million people worldwide per year. CJD occurs when a normal brain protein changes into an abnormal form called a “prion” and accumulates in brain cells. CJD can occur sporadically, from genetic mutation, or it can be acquired. It is not easily transmitted from person to person.
CJD patients have a range of neurological symptoms that get worse as the disease progresses. Symptoms may include: failing memory, difficulty with walking, blindness, and problems with common activities of daily living.
There is no specific treatment or therapy that has been shown to stop the progression of the disease. There is currently no easy diagnosis for CJD. Physicians often make a presumptive diagnosis of CJD on the basis of the typical signs and symptoms and progression of the disease.
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With a population of about 1.2 million, Hillsborough County has a remarkably high rate of CJD. With a population of about 20 million, Florida also has a high rate. Is it possible the historical incidence of CJD was lower than it is today? A possible factor is that Mad Cow Disease (bovine version of CJD) has recently become permanently established in U.S. herds When the USDA surveillance project began finding cases of Mad Cow Disease, the program was sharply scaled back. The USDA also shut down the testing for Mad Cow Disease that Creekstone Farms was going to perform on all its cattle. If the outbreak had followed the trajectory indicated by the early data, there would be a considerable number of infected cattle in the U.S. today. There was an epidemic of CJD in the UK several years ago caused by transfer of the infectious agent from the beef of infected cattle. Cooking beef does not remove the risk of infection.
I got a prion disease from taking antler velvet spray yes cwd has spread to humans and I’m highly infectious and contagious the outbreak of this is going to be a million times worse than mad cow disease you wait and see. There is no species barrier. Cwd is easily spread via saliva, urine and feces. I live in new jersey pretty soon this whole state will be covered in it I guarantee you their not going to know what the hell to do about it. Idiots should have spent more time on cures for these diseases than just cancer and hiv/aids. Btw I contacted the doh, cdc, infectious disease and even the president and none of them have done a damn thing you’d think with me spreading this to other people they would do something but nope they don’t seem to care. Well they will when they eventually get it too. Millions of people are going to die from this me my wife and kids have it my dad and stepmom the lady I live with and her two dogs the list goes on and on. The threat is real cwd has spread to humans and it’s going to be catastrophic.
Ryan Michael Carty does not have CWD. He has whipple’s disease, which is NOT a prion disease and is completely unrelated to CWD. He has an account on YouTube and has a video explaining his diagnosis. I am adding this info so his post above doesn’t continue to alarm people.
Ryan Michael Carty,
I’m researching people who have gotten prion disease from deer products. Is this your certain diagnosis? Are you able to communicate?
My mother passed away in 2016, according to the doctor, it’s CJD. But her symptoms didn’t really fit and should the doctor report this case if she’s confident about it? I’ve confronted her about this diagnosis and whether she has reported it to the medical authorities and she was trying to avoid answering me. Is this normal practice? She has been practicing for around 8 years, I doubt if she has come across CJD before. I am really skeptical about this diagnosis.