Hood River County Health Department is investigating three cases of the rare brain disorder Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in Hood River County. These cases have been found in the past eight months, and at this time, it is not known if the cases are linked. The risk of CJD to the public is extremely low. It cannot be spread through the air, touch, social contact, or water.
What is CJD?
● CJD is a serious brain disorder caused by a misfolded protein called a prion.
● In the United States, there are approximately 500 new cases of CJD per year (source: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation).
● Symptoms include issues with memory, walking, coordination, speech, and behavior changes.
● CJD can happen in different ways: ○ Most cases happen without a known reason. ○ It can be inherited (runs in families). ○ In very rare cases, it may be spread through certain medical exposures to infected brain or nervous tissue or by eating infected beef.
The health department is closely monitoring the situation and will keep you updated if this becomes a public health issue. If you have questions about your healthcare, please talk with your primary medical team.