Third Transfusion-Related vCJD Case

Reuters reports on the third case of human-to-human transmission of mad cow disease via blood transfusion in Britain:

"The patient developed symptoms of vCJD about eight years after receiving a blood transfusion from a donor who developed symptoms of vCJD about 20 months after donating this blood. The patient is still alive and is under the care of doctors at the National Prion Clinic," the agency said in a statement.
Professor Peter Borriello, Director of the HPA's Center for Infections said: "The occurrence of a third case of vCJD infection in a small group of patients like this suggests that blood transfusion from an infected donor may be a relatively efficient mechanism for the transmission of vCJD, although much still remains unknown.