לע יטירבה תואירבה דרשמ לש הזרכהה
nvCJD-ל BSE ןיב רשקה


15 October 1997

HSE ADVISES THAT BSE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A BIOLOGICAL AGENT
FOLLOWING
RESEARCH LINK WITH NEW VARIANT CJD

In the light of new research strengthening the link between BSE and new
variant CJD (nvCJD), BSE must now be considered a biological agent (human
pathogen) within the meaning of the Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health (COSHH) Regulations 1994.

The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) has drawn this
conclusion after recent research showed that mice infected with brain
material from nvCJD patients exhibit patterns of disease - incubation
period and brain lesions - that are apparently the same as those caused by
BSE and different from normal CJD.

The ACDP believe that this, taken with other experimental data since March
1996, provides compelling evidence that nvCJD and BSE are caused by the
same infectious agent and advise that in view of the severity of nvCJD, the
BSE agent should be placed in the same hazard group (3 with derogation) as
the agent responsible for CJD.

BSE has yet to be formally added in the EC classification list under the
Biological Agents Directive 90/679/EEC, but in the meantime, COSHH Schedule
9 requires that employers make their own classification of any agent that
is not listed in the Approved List of Biological Agents or the ACDP
publication "Categorisation of biological agents according to hazard and
categories of containment."

To date there have been no confirmed cases of occupational transmission of
either BSE or CJD and none of the cases of nvCJD has any obvious link with
occupational exposure to BSE. Cases of classic CJD have been diagnosed in
a range of different occupations but there remains no evidence that these
are linked to occupational exposure to BSE or CJD.


The ACDP's advice and recommended worker safety measures have always been
precautionary in the light of the uncertainty about the risks from BSE.
Occupations that do not intentionally work with BSE, e.g., abattoir
workers, vets, should continue to follow the advice given since 1990 and
updated most recently in ACDP general guidance on BSE published in August
1996. Farmers can get specific advice in Agricultural Information Sheet no
19 "Occupational health risks from Cattle".

Those intentionally working with BSE infected material or preparations such
as laboratory researchers should use the same laboratory safety precautions
as for CJD. Advice on these can be found in the 1992 publication
"Precautions for work with human and animal Transmissible Spongiform
Encephalopathies" or in the Categorisation guidance. The 1992 guidance is
being revised and updated and will be published early in 1998.

Further details of the advice on BSE and CJD can be obtained from the
following sources:-

Food National Interest Group,Glasgow Tel 0141 275 3000.
Fax 0141 275 3100

Dangerous Pathogens/Microbiology,Directorate of Science and
Technology,Bootle
Tel. 0151 951 3622. Fax. 0151 922 4637 e-mail:
john.newbold@hse.gov.uk

Health Directorate,Biological Agents Policy section (ACDP Secretariat)
London
Tel. 0171 717 6230 Fax. 0171 717 6199 e-mail:
mark.bale@hse.gov.uk

Notes to editors

1. Bruce et al (1997) Transmissions to mice indicate that 'new variant'
CJD is caused by BSE agent. Nature 389:pp498-501. Hill et al (1997) The
same prion strain causes nvCJD and BSE. Nature 389:pp448-450.

2. The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) advises the Health
and Safety Commission, the Health and Safety Executive and Health and
Agriculture Ministers on the risks to workers and others from exposure to
pathogens.

3. "Categorisation of biological agents according to hazard and categories
of containment", 1995, ISBN 0-7176-1038-1, price £8.50, is available from
HSE Books, PO Box 1998, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6FS - Tel 01787 881165 -
Fax 01787 313995.

4. "BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy): Background and General
Occupational Guidance", 1996, ISBN 0-7176-1212-0, price £5.50, and
Agricultural Information Sheet 19 are available from HSE Books, PO Box
1998, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6FS - Tel 01787 881165 - Fax 01787 313995.

5. "Precautions for work with human and animal Transmissible

Spongiform Encephalopathies" ISBN 0-11-321805-2, 1992, price £6.50 is
available from the Stationary Office.

Public Enquiries: Call HSE's InfoLine, tel: 0541 545500, or write to: HSE
Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ.

Press Enquiries: Journalists only: Liz Justice 0171-717 6905.

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet
<http://www.open.gov.uk/hse/hsehome.htm>

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