Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease surveillance in Australia: update to December 2017

Abstract

Nationwide surveillance of human prion diseases (also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies), the most common being Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD), is performed by the Australian National Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease Registry (ANCJDR), based at the University of Melbourne. National surveillance encompasses the period since 1970, with prospective surveillance occurring from 1993 onwards. Over this prospective surveillance period considerable developments have occurred, especially in relation to pre-mortem diagnostics, the delineation of new disease subtypes and a heightened awareness of prion diseases in the health care setting. The surveillance practices of the ANCJDR have evolved..