UPDATED: Three cases Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) reported in Hood River County

Per state law, the health department investigates and monitors diseases that could be a risk to the public. At this time, there is no identifiable link between these three cases.

The risk of getting CJD is extremely low. It does not spread through the air, touch, social contact, or water. People with questions about their healthcare are encouraged to contact their primary medical team. This is an active and ongoing investigation in partnership with Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The health department will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed of any risk to public health.

For more information on CJD, please visit CJD Foundation or the CDC’s website.

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HOOD RIVER — Hood River County Health Department is investigating three cases of the rare brain disorder Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in Hood River County. These cases have been found in the past eight months, and at this time, it is not known if the cases are linked. The risk of CJD to the public is extremely low. It cannot be spread through the air, touch, social contact, or water.

What is CJD?

● CJD is a serious brain disorder caused by a misfolded protein called a prion.

● In the United States, there are approximately 500 new cases of CJD per year (source: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation).

● Symptoms include issues with memory, walking, coordination, speech, and behavior changes.

● CJD can happen in different ways:

○ Most cases happen without a known reason.

○ It can be inherited (runs in families).

○ In very rare cases, it may be spread through certain medical exposures to infected brain or nervous tissue or by eating infected beef.

The health department is closely monitoring the situation and will keep you updated if this becomes a public health issue. If you have questions about your healthcare, please talk with your primary medical team.