Probable Case of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in Hong Kong

A 65 year old man has reportedly succumbed to what is being stated to be sporadic Creutzfeldt Jakob disease according to a report in Outbreak News Today.

The report states:

He presented with dizziness since August 2014 and developed onset of cognitive decline since September 21, 2014. He was admitted to a public hospital on September 22, 2014. Subsequently, he developed rapidly progressive dementia, cerebellar disturbance and extrapyramidal dysfunction.Findings from magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and electroencephalography were suggestive of CJD. He was classified as a probable case of sporadic CJD. He had no known family history of CJD. No risk factors for iatrogenic or variant CJD were identified.His condition continued to deteriorate and he succumbed on January 5, 2015.

CJD is a disease caused by infectious, mis-folded proteins called prions. Other similar diseases in this category include kuru, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS) syndrome, and fatal familial insomnia. Unfortunately, as seen in the case of this victim, these diseases, which are classified under Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) are rapidly fatal and most patients succumb within one year of being diagnosed.

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