Thousands may be harbouring vCJD. Scientists have found
 evidence to suggest that more people could be harbouring
 the human form of BSE than previously thought. 

 Researchers at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital and the CJD
 Surveillance Unit tested 12,674 appendix and tonsil samples.

 Extrapolating their findings to the whole population, they
 estimated that 3,800 Britons may harbour the disease. 

 The findings are published in the Journal of Pathology. 

 A total of 141 people have died from vCJD in the UK since
 the disease emerged in 1995. 

 "There is still much to learn about vCJD and presence of
 the protein in these tissue samples does not necessarily
 mean that those affected will go on to develop vCJD," said
 lead researcher David Hilton. 

 Meanwhile, the Health Protection Agency is in the process
 of collecting 100,000 tonsil samples which will be tested
 for signs of vCJD. 

 "The larger scale of the study should provide better
 estimates of the number of people who may be affected,"
 said Professor Pat Troop, its chief executive. 

 A leading expert on vCJD said the latest estimates may
 be too low. 

 "I find these results very concerning," said Professor
 John Collinge, head of the MRC Prion Unit at St Mary's
 Hospital, in London. 

 "Our experience is that looking at appendix samples will
 under-estimate the true picture." 

 He suggested the government should look again at whether
 surgeons should use disposable instruments in operations
 where there may be a risk of transmission, such as the
 removal of tonsils. 

 A Department of Health spokesman said it had "already put
 in place measures to reduce any risk of possible
 transmission of the disease via blood products and
 surgical instruments". 

 Don Simms, whose son Jonathan has vCJD, said the latest
 study showed that scientists simply didn't know how many
 people have the disease. 

 "The fact is we just don't know how many people are
 affected. We need to find out."

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3729901.stm
 21 May 2004

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