1. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Classic CJD occurs worldwide at 1-2 cases per million population per year In people over 50, the annual rate is about 3.4 per million per year The United States reports about 300 cases of CJD a year For 2008, there were 4 cases of CJD in Tennessee, fewer than the expected number for our population

2. Roane County CJD TDH East Region officials investigated a confirmed case of classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and a second probable case of CJD in another person in Roane County Next-of-kin interviewed to rule out CJD transmission that can rarely occur during medical procedures Neither patient had a history of high-risk procedures (corneal transplant, use of human growth hormone) No evidence of hospital transmission No travel outside the United States Final diagnosis for the second patient available in several weeks

3. Publicity and Concerns Local rumors about variant CJD (vCJD) vCJD never contracted in the U.S. Overseas, has been contracted in people who ate beef products from cattle infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), (mad cow disease.) Only 3 cases of vCJD ever reported in the United States All 3 occurred in people who were born overseas and spent substantial amounts of time in the United Kingdom or the Middle East. CEDS director for the East Region, Cathy Goff, was available at the Roane County Health Council meeting on March 24 th, to discuss CJD and answer questions.