The risk of the human form of BSE - mad cow disease - being transmitted through blood transfusions may be considerably higher than previously thought, it emerged today.
Tests at the British Institute of Animal Health show that one in six animals given blood from sheep infected with a similar disease go on to develop the illness, suggesting that there is an "appreciable" risk to humans, today’s Guardian newspaper reported.
The English department of health said it was considering barring people who had previously received blood transfusions from giving blood - something which could affect one in 10 donors.
And a spokesman said more blood plasma may have to be imported from abroad in order to avoid possible shortages in supplies as a result of the new discovery.
Previously, the government had described the risk of transmission of variant CJD through blood transfusion as "theoretical".
All blood given to humans already has white cells removed in a process known as leuco-depletion because they are regarded as the most likely carriers of vCJD.
PA