Hundreds given contaminated blood in Ireland

Nearly 270 people in the Irish Republic have been given a blood product containing plasma from a British donor, who died of new variant CJD, the human equivalent of Mad Cow Disease.

The Irish Health Ministry says the product, which is used to diagnose lung disease, was given to nine hospitals before being withdrawn when the link was discovered.

Efforts are now being made to contact all the people who received the product, although Irish officials say the withdrawal is purely precautionary.

Authorities in Britain conceded earlier this year that new variant CJD (Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease) can be contracted from eating beef contaminated with BSE or Mad Cow Disease.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service.