The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA) wishes to clarify that the cases of neurodegenerative diseases investigated, as published in the press, by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), are suspected cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

Thus, the suspected cases are not related to the consumption of beef.

Most cases of this disease occur sporadically, and its infectious causes and sources are unknown.

According to the information available on the site of Brazil’s Ministry of Health, 603 suspected cases of CJD were reported in the country from 2005 to 2014. Since CJD surveillance was established in Brazil, no cases of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD) have been confirmed. The type of CJD called Variant CJD (vCJD) is associated with the consumption of beef.

Source: The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA)