Ireland suffers first homegrown case of human form of mad cow disease
DUBLIN - Ireland has suffered its first homegrown case of the human form of mad cow disease, the government confirmed Wednesday. Health Minister Mary Harney sent a message of sympathy to the victim, a man in his early 20s, after The Irish Times reported his positive diagnosis for variant Crutzfeld-Jakob Disease or vCJD, a fatal condition. The newspaper quoted the patient's neurologist as saying that the victim and his family "have asked that their privacy be respected. It has been a very traumatic time for them."Source: Canada.com