Briton in Hong Kong vCJD probe

The UK has seen 161 cases of the human form of mad cow disease

A British man visiting Hong Kong has been admitted to hospital after showing symptoms of variant CJD, the human form of "mad cow disease", officials said.

The unnamed 23-year-old patient, being treated in Prince of Wales Hospital, is said to have appeared "deranged" when he sought medical treatment in April.

Hong Kong's hospital authority said the "critically ill" man, of Chinese origin, had had intestinal surgery.

Tests have not confirmed vCJD, linked to contaminated blood or infected beef.

This case is not a local one, we believe whatever he has, he caught it overseas Hong Kong health department

In a joint statement, Hong Kong's Department of Health and the hospital authority said although the man had signs of the disease, tests had proved "inconclusive".

A health department spokeswoman said officials were examining where the man had visited in Britain before travelling to the city.

"This case is not a local one," she added. "We believe whatever he has, he caught it overseas."

Neurological symptoms

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is the human form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) seen in cattle.

To date, 161 cases of vCJD have been reported in the UK, 18 in France and 12 in the rest of the world - most of those of UK origin.

The disease was first named by scientists in 1996, who believed the emergence of a new neurological condition in relatively young people, including teenagers, was linked to the epidemic of BSE in cattle.

Research shows symptoms begin with a range of mainly emotional or behavioural disturbances, such as social withdrawal, depression, anxiety or agitation.

Specific neurological symptoms develop later and usually include poor balance and clumsiness.

People with vCJD gradually become unable to do things for themselves and may develop eating and swallowing difficulties.