Two die of vCJD in Spain

Updated 15.31 Mon Apr 07 2008

Keywords: Spain, vCJD, Cattle

Two people have died from the human form of mad cow disease in Spain.

The health department at the regional Castilla-Leon government said one person died of vCJD 15-20 days ago while another passed away in late December or early January.

Officials said these were not the first vCJD deaths in Spain but did not give details

Officials said these were not the first vCJD deaths in Spain but did not give details.

Spanish national radio said the only previous case of a death from vCJD was in Madrid, in 2005.

Mad cow disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, first emerged in Britain in the 1980s and has been found in herds in several European and other countries.

Scientists believe it is transmitted through infected meat and bone meal fed to cattle and may cause vCJD in humans.