Why do we recommend new blood donor deferrals for possible exposure to BSE and vCJD?
FDA is taking this step as a prudent measure to assure the safety of the blood supply by further reducing the theoretical risk from vCJD. In 1999, we recommended the first donor deferral for people who may have been exposed to the vCJD agent, which is believed to be the same as the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or “mad cow” disease). We recommended deferral of donors who resided in the United Kingdom (U.K.) for 6 months or more between 1980 and 1996. At this time, we are recommending new blood donor deferrals for possible exposure to BSE and vCJD for the following reasons: • Since 1999, the rate of vCJD cases in the U.K. has been on the rise. • Significant exposures to potentially contaminated U.K. beef occurred in France and cases of vCJD have appeared in France. • Significant exposures to potentially contaminated U.K. beef occurred at U.S. military bases in Europe • In Europe, outside the U.K., the BSE epidemic has been increasing. • Particularly in the U.K., transf
