Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Statutory notification

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD: classical or variant) infection is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF214KB) or regional residents (PDF213KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of Statutory medical notifications for WA Health.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Self replicating host-coded protein or prion protein.
• Transmission: Mode of transmission for classical form is unknown but possibly due to de novo spontaneous generation. Has been transmitted by contaminated neurosurgical instruments or administration of pituitary hormone therapy, dura mater grafts, corneal grafts derived from infected individuals. Mode of transmission for variant form is thought to be due to consumption of infected meat.
• Incubation period: 15 months to more than 30 years
• Infectious period: Possibly infectious early in incubation period.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: No specific treatment.
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case follow-up: Is conducted by the Communicable Disease Control Directorate.

Guidelines

• Management and reporting of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease policy
• A Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease response plan for Australia (external site)

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• Infectious disease data resources