France has a second case of vCJD, the human disease linked to BSE. The
announcement comes after European Commission scientists, advising on France鈥檚
refusal to import British beef, judged French beef no safer than British where
BSE is concerned. The new vCJD case, confirmed by biopsy, is a French national
with no 鈥渟pecial risk factors鈥�, such as injecting bovine-derived drugs, the
probable cause of France鈥檚 one previous case.
Meanwhile, Lord Phillips, chair of Britain鈥檚 official BSE Inquiry, said last
week that Britain鈥檚 48 vCJD cases may be 鈥渢he tip of an iceberg鈥�, as the inquiry
adjourned to write its final report, due in March 2000.