RSS Feeds  Autopsy confirms NH patient had rare brain disease
Friday - 9/20/2013, 6:30pm  ET  CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New
Hampshire public health officials say an autopsy has confirmed a
patient who may have exposed others to the rare brain disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob (KROYTS'-feld YAH'-kuhb) died of it.  After
the patient died in August officials suspected Creutzfeldt-
Jakob, an always-fatal disease characterized by rapidly
progressive dementia. But the only way to confirm it is through
a brain biopsy or autopsy.  The patient had brain surgery at
Catholic Medical Center in Manchester in May. Officials warned
eight other patients they may have been exposed because the
proteins that cause the disease survive standard techniques used
to sterilize surgical equipment.  Five others in Massachusetts
and Connecticut also were notified because the equipment was
rented and used elsewhere. But officials say such transmission
is extremely rare.