Prion diseases and the Canadian Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System
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About prion diseases
Prion diseases are rare, neurodegenerative and fatal brain disorders. They occur worldwide in both humans and animals. The prion protein in the brain does not cause disease in its normal form. However, for unknown reasons and very rarely, the prion protein can become abnormal. This causes brain damage and loss of function over time.
Human prion diseases
The most common human prion disease is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).
Animal prion diseases
Prion diseases that affect animals include:
- scrapie in sheep and goats
- chronic wasting disease in:
- deer
- moose
- elk
- reindeer
- bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease subtypes
Sporadic (around 93%): cause unknown.
Inherited (6%): passed down through genetics from previous generations.
Acquired (extremely rare, less than 1%):
- Iatrogenic: accidental infectious transmission during medical procedures involving human tissues.
- Variant: human exposure to a prion disease of cattle.
Common signs and symptoms
- Unstable movement
- Change in behaviour
- Rapidly progressive dementia
Treatment
Medical care for people with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is limited to supportive therapy. There is no cure to slow down human prion disease progression.
The Public Health Agency of Canada operates the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System with a focus to:
- improve rapid and accurate diagnosis
- better understand all types of human prion diseases in Canada
- protect the health of people in Canada by reducing risks of human prion disease transmission
In 2022, 90 people in Canada were diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- Around 90% of people diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are aged 45 to 85.
- Most people with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease pass away within 1 year of showing symptoms.
- Every year, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is found in around 1 to 2 people per million among the general population in Canada and worldwide.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System offers:
- laboratory testing
- coordination of case investigation
- public health research
- education
Testing
The Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System provides specialized laboratory tests though the National Microbiology Laboratory to investigate the possibility of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Notifications of suspect cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
If you are a health care professional in Canada, you must inform your local public health authority. We strongly encourage you to notify the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System as well.
Telephone: 1-888-489-2999
Email: cjdsurveillance@phac-aspc.gc.ca