Analysis: The possible diagnosis of the first indigenous case of variant CJD in the Republic could have serious implications for the health system here, writes Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent
It will trigger an investigation to establish whether the person was infected with surgical instruments or through blood products. It will also be necessary to check whether the victim himself gave blood in the past.
The fact that the patient is young makes it less likely that he has spent any length of time in Britain. Residence in Britain increased the chance that a person will have consumed beef from an animal with mad cow disease.
vCJD is considered to be the human equivalent of BSE in cattle. A brain disorder, it results in a rapid decrease of mental function and movement abnormalities.
The damage is caused by a transmissible protein called a prion. Until now, the risk of vCJD was considered to be very low for people living in the Republic.
Last year doctors from Beaumont Hospital estimated that only one further person in the Republic was likely to die from CJD based on statistical modelling.
However, this calculation did not consider those people who could catch vCJD from surgical equipment or blood products. One other person has died from vCJD, but this case was linked to the consumption of infected beef in Britain.
Two cases of vCJD linked to blood transfusions have been reported in Britain in the last year. 147 cases have been linked to the consumption of BSE infected cattle there. There is no test that can be performed to make a diagnosis of vCJD.