The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) recorded two probable cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) so far in the month of March.

Hong Kong/CIA
Hong Kong/CIA

The first case was notified on March 12, 2015, affecting a 57-year-old female with good past health. She presented with unsteady gait, visual and auditory hallucination since mid-February and was admitted to a public hospital on March 2.

Myoclonus, cerebellar and extrapyramidal signs, rigidity and akinetic mutism were detected during hospitalization. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed typical CJD pattern. She was classified as a probable case of sporadic CJD. Her condition was stable.

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The second case was recorded on March 13, 2015, affecting a 78-year-old man with underlying illnesses. He presented with limb weakness, slurring of speech, facial asymmetry and decreased memory since January 12, 2015 and was admitted to a public hospital on January 26.

Subsequently, he developed progressive dementia, myoclonus, pyramidal and extrapyramidal dysfunction, and akinetic mutism. EEG finding was compatible with CJD. He was classified as a probable case of sporadic CJD. His condition was serious.

Both cases had no known family history of CJD and no risk factors for iatrogenic or variant CJD were identified.

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