What is vCJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease)?
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) is a fatal degenerative disease affecting the nervous system that is found almost exclusively in the United Kingdom. It has been linked to another disease often referred to as “Mad Cow Disease.” The risk of vCJD is unknown, however, only two cases associated with blood transfusion have been detected. Neither was in the United States. Learn more about vCJD.
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) is a fatal degenerative disease affecting the nervous system that is found almost exclusively in the United Kingdom. It has been linked to another disease often referred to as “Mad Cow Disease.” The risk of vCJD is unknown, however, only two cases associated with blood transfusion have been detected. Neither was in the United States. Learn more about vCJD. Current FDA guidelines prevent you from donating blood if you have spent an extended amount of time in the United Kingdom and Europe. The guidelines are: • if you traveled or lived in the United Kingdom for a total time of three months or more between 1980 and 1996, you are not eligible to donate blood. • If you have traveled or lived for a total of five years or more in any other European (however, does not include Russia) country since 1980 to the present, you are not eligible to donate. • If your were associated with the military and stationed on a military base in Europe for more than six
