Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance in Australia January 1970 to December 2003.

Abstract

The Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry (ANCJDR) was established by the Commonwealth Government in October 1993 in response to the recognition of four probable human pituitary hormone related Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) deaths. An inquiry into CJD in Australia and the use of human pituitary hormones under the Australian Human Pituitary Hormone Program suggested the expansion of some activities of the Registry to include retrospective case ascertainment from 1 January 1970. In parallel with monitoring possible medically acquired (iatrogenic) cases of CJD, the ANCJDR prospectively monitors and investigates all suspect cases of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies oc..