Wary of Mad Cow Disease, US Restricts Blood Donors

To reduce the risk of transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) to recipients of blood and blood products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued more restrictive guidelines on donors. Based on the best available science, the guidelines are designed to exclude donors who may have been exposed to the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow disease), which has been linked to vCJD.

According to the new guidelines, by May 31, 2002, donors should be deferred who have spent three or more cumulative months in the United Kingdom from the beginning of 1980 through the end of 1996, as should donors who have spent five cumulative years or more in France from 1980 to the present. By October 31, 2002, donors should be deferred who have spent five cumulative years or more in Europe from 1980 until the present.

Currently, vCJD is not known to have been transmitted by blood transfusion, nor have any cases of the disease been reported in the United States. However, the FDA notes that animal models suggest that transmission by blood products may be possible. Also, cases of vCJD in the U.K. continue to increase, while BSE has become widespread in Europe.




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