§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any cases in which it appears possible that a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy has been transmitted by a human mother to her child in utero; and, if so, what is their current state of knowledge of such cases. [HL1525]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe National CJD Surveillance Unit monitors the onset of all cases of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in the United Kingdom. No confirmed or probable case has been reported to the Unit of a baby being affected by this disease.
Epidemiological evidence from Kuru—a human TSE occurring amongst the Fore people of Papua New Guinea—sugges,s that human maternal transmission of TSE disease does not occur. However animal studies have shown maternal transmission can occur in scrapie in sheep and there is evidence of a low rate of vertical transmission of BSE in cattle. We will continue to liaise closely with scientists at the National CJD Surveillance Unit in Edinburgh to monitor the onset of all cases of CJD and seek to identify any common features.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is any evidence that any Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy in any species can be transmitted through blood; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the principal relevant scientific papers. [HL1545]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathSome animal studies have shown that certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies can be experimentally transmitted from animal to Animal through blood components. However, the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee at its February meeting reviewed recent research undertaken in this area and did not consider58WA any measures were necessary, in addition to those already in place, to reduce any potential risk to public health from human blood and blood products.
Copies of the following relevant scientific papers are being placed in the Library.
Brown P. 1995, Can Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease be transmitted by Transfusion? Haematology 2: 472–477.
Brown et al 1999, Further studies of blood infectivity in an experimental model of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, with an explanation of why blood components do not transmit Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Transfusion Vol. 39, November/December 1169–1178.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is the potential for transmission of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies through the use of inadequately sterilised dentists' instruments. [HL1524]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathAlthough the possibility of person to person transmission of any theoretical Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy infectivity through the use of surgical instruments cannot be ruled out, the National CJD Surveillance Unit, as they investigate cases of CJD, undertake an examination of medical histories to look for common risk factors. Analyses of cases to date do not provide evidence to suggest any increased risk with past dental surgical intervention. Nonetheless, guidance has been formulated on appropriate prudent practice, which is available from the BDA, and which takes into account advice from the Joint Working Group of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens. In addition, a Health Service Circular on best practice on decontamination of medical devices was issued in August 1999 to healthcare organisations, including Dental Postgraduate Deans and Regional Dental Advisors.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Mr Rod Griffiths, the West Midlands director of public health, has been correctly quoted as saying (in respect of instruments used in subsequent operations having been used on a woman with new-variant CJD) that the risk to other women was vanishingly small, as the prion that caused CJD was removed simply by washing before sterilisation; and if so, whether they agree with him. [HL1548]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe are unable to comment on the accuracy of the reporting of any statement by Professor Griffiths. However the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust has advised that Caesarean section itself is considered to be low risk surgery for transmission. The Government agree with advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee that rigorous washing, decontamination and general hygiene practices with regard to surgical instruments 59WA are key measures in minimising the risk of any infection being transferred from patient to patient.
To date, there is no known case of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease having arisen as a consequence of medical or surgical intervention.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why patients who have received blood or blood products from people who have subsequently developed CJD are allowed to donate blood. [HL1660]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThere is strong epidemiological evidence to suggest that classic Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD) is not transmitted through blood. Donors who have received blood or blood products from people who subsequently developed classic CJD are therefore not barred from giving blood. However, there is far less knowledge about the routes of transmission of variant CJD and, as a precautionary measure, no blood from donors who received blood from people who subsequently developed variant CJD enters the blood supply. As an additional precaution against the theoretical risk that variant CJD may be transmitted through blood, all blood taken from United Kingdom donors is leucodepleted (the white cells are removed) and all blood products are made with plasma sourced from outside the UK.