1. Beware of Blood Transfusions and Transplants
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare but fatal brain disorder than can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact of infected brain tissue. It cannot be spread through the air or by casual contact, such as physical touching. The most common way to contract CJD, is blood transfusions and corneal transplants. Before you undergo either one of these medical procedures, ensure that the plasma and tissue has been tested for Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease.
2. Health Care Professionals Beware!
Another common way to contract CJD is by handling a cadaver or body that has been infected by the disorder. A significant percentage of CJD cases in developed countries occurs when a medical student or medical examiner does not follow the proper procedures for hygiene following the handling of a corpse.
Unfortunately, warm soap and water do not prevent the spread of this disease. Health care professionals and morticians should always wear latex gloves when handling cadavers, cover all cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings and use adequate face and eye protection while working around cadavers. All instruments should be soaked in chlorine bleach for at least 30 minutes after use, followed by another 30 minutes in an autoclave or sterilizer.
3. Check Your Family History for Incidences of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Five to 10 percent of all CJD cases are hereditary. Unfortunately, it is very hard to detect the presence of CJD in most people because the genes that cause this brain disorder can remain dormant for as long as 40 years. The fact that CJD is often impossible to diagnose may complicate the matter further.
If you have a relative who has contracted CJD, you should be tested for the disease as well. Traditional RNA and DNA testing does not reveal the gene mutations that cause CJD, so the testing process may be long, involved and expensive. Since CJD is always fatal, however, this protocol may be the only way to achieve piece of mind and to prevent the spread of CJD to others.
