Elderly man treated for possible vCJD symptoms

Michael O’Farrell and Harry Walsh

With news breaking that an elderly male patient was being treated in Donegal’s Falcarragh Nursing Home for CJD-like symptoms, the plight of another 24-year-old sufferer was raised in the Dáil yesterday.

The young man, who is seriously ill in a Dublin hospital with only months to live, was the first Irish person to be diagnosed with vCJD last November.

Asking Ms Harney to explain how the man contracted the disease despite having never travelled to Britain, Labour’s Eamon Gilmore said the man had contracted the fatal brain disease despite apparently strict controls in place in Ireland since 1996.

“He had lived all his life in this country and had never travelled abroad.

“It is clear, therefore, that he contracted the disease here in this country. This raises the question as to the adequacy of the safeguards which are in place to prevent vCJD arising in this country,” he said.

Responding on behalf of Ms Harney, junior Health Minister Brian Lenihan said adequate controls were in place.

“The initial conclusion is that the situation presented by the occurrence of this case does not require that any other measures, apart from those already in place, need to be taken,” he said.

However, the Health Service Executive North Western Area last night confirmed an elderly patient had presented with the symptoms of vCJD.

The diagnosis has not yet been confirmed but in a statement issued this week a spokeswoman for the HSE North Western Area said all considerations, including CJD and other possibilities, had to be considered.

“The HSE North Western Area is following national guidelines in the management and investigation of this case,” she said.