Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, and fatal brain disorder that leads to a rapid decrease in mental function and movement.1

There is no test for this rare disease and therefore, in the United States, contamination is addressed with screening.2

You are not eligible to donate if:

  • From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in any country in the United Kingdom (UK), Channel Islands, England, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
  • From January 1, 1980, to present, you had a blood transfusion in any of the countries listed below: France, Ireland, Channel Islands, England, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales
  • You spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 5 years or more from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 2001, in France or Ireland
  • If you have received a dura mater (brain covering) transplant;
  • If you received an injection of cadaveric pituitary human growth hormone (hGH) (before 1985)
  • If you have first-degree blood relatives who had Creutzfeld-Jacob disease

It is important to note that 85-90% of the cases acquired so-called ‘sporadic’ CJD, meaning that the disease appears even though the person has no known risk factors for the disease. This is by far the most common type of CJD.3 This sporadic disease occurs worldwide, including in the United States, at a rate of approximately one case per 1 million population per year, although rates of up to two cases per million are not unusual. The risk of CJD increases with age, and in persons aged over 50 years of age, the annual rate is approximately 3.4 cases per million.4

In theory, CJD can be transferred between humans through injection or, heaven forbid… consumption of brain tissue. Currently, no information suggests CJD has been transmitted to an unborn child or through грудне молоко.5 6 7

Complete inactivation of CJD requires a combination of chemicals and heat treatment.8

For information on the blood donor protocols of various countries see Travel to various countries with regards to Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Milk banks follow blood bank guidelines. However, it is not the general recommendation for parents to not breastfeed their own child if they have spent a cumulative time in the above-mentioned areas or received a blood transfusion there since 1980.

Please disclose any traveling or past abroad residence to prospective recipient families for their full informed choice process.

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  1. NIH – Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Fact Sheet ↩︎
  2. American Red Cross – In-Depth Discussion of Variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease and Blood Donation These are blood bank guidelines. While there is no evidence that blood from people with sporadic CJD is infectious, studies have found that infectious prions from BSE and vCJD may accumulate in the lymph nodes (which produce white blood cells), the spleen, and the tonsils. These findings suggest that blood transfusions from people with vCJD might transmit the disease. The possibility that blood from people with vCJD may be infectious has led to a policy preventing people in the United States from donating blood if they have resided for more than 3 months in a country or countries where BSE is common. ↩︎
  3. NIH – Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Fact Sheet ↩︎
  4. CDC - Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Classic (CJD) ↩︎
  5. NHS – Is CJD contagious? ↩︎
  6. Public Health England – Information for people who have an increased risk of CJDpdf image ↩︎
  7. Public Health Agency of Canada – Classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in Canadapdf image ↩︎
  8. N. N. Damani, A. M. Emmerson. Manual of Infection Control Procedures. p.169. 2003. Роздрукувати. ↩︎