§ Sir Harold WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of new variant CJD have occurred in each year since 1990, broken down by age groups and local authority areas. [17801]
§ Mr. HoramThe total number of definite and probable cases of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease which have occurred since 1990 is 16, of which three died in 1995, 10 died in 1996 and three are still alive. The age range at death is from 19 to 50. The release of detailed data on the age and geographical location of the cases would, given the small numbers involved, put at risk the confidentiality of patients and their families. Cases of nvCJD have been found throughout the United Kingdom, and the distribution of cases of nvCJD by geographical location does not suggest a significant excess in any particular area.