New variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Since the report of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (nvCJD) in humans last year, the search was on for direct evidence to link the condition to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). The first case nvCJD was noted 10 years after the recognition of BSE in UK cattle. A direct link is now established. There are, however, some 'protective' mechanisms, the most important of which are the inefficiency of the gastric route of introducing the infected material, the species barrier and genetic 'predisposition'. None of these is full proof and time will tell whether feeding ruminants with their own species will turn out to be a major public health disaster?