§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many suspected cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease have been identified since 31 May 1992.
§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have been found to have suffered from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom; how many current suspects there are; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleSuspected cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease—CJD—in the United Kingdom are reported to Dr. R. G. Will, consultant neurologist, at the national CJD surveillance unit in Edinburgh.
One hundred and twenty suspected cases were referred to the CJD unit between 1 June 1992 and 1 January 1994. Following investigation, 69 have been classified as definite or probable cases of CJD.
Figures for the total number of definite and probable cases of CJD in the United Kingdom each year from 1985 are shown in the table.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the United Kingdom, definite and probable cases by year of death 1985–1993 Year Total 1985 28 1986 26 1987 22 1988 22 1989 28 1990 30 1991 36 1992 53 1993 126 1 Provisional total. Source: CJD Surveillance Unit.
Note: The final figure for 1993 is likely to show some increase over the provisional total as diagnoses of people dying in 1993 are confirmed retrospectively. It is unlikely, however, to reach the 1992 figure.