Family's warning over CJD cases

The family of a south Wales woman who died of new variant CJD have warned there could be thousands more cases of the human form of BSE than official figures indicate.

Karen Beavon, 37, died earlier this year of the degenerative brain disease but a succession of doctors failed to diagnose her condition.

Later this week, the government gives its response to a lengthy inquiry into BSE and is expected to announce millions of pounds in compensation.

Mrs Beavon's family will travel to hear the government's response to the Phillips Inquiry, which was ordered by Tony Blair in 1997.

Just 10 months ago, Mrs Beavon was working as a computer training manager for a software firm in Cardiff.

Irrational behaviour

Married for 10 years, she and her husband Nigel were hoping to start a family.

But towards the end of last year, relatives and friends noticed Mrs Beavon was displaying instances of irrational and obsessive behaviour, which quickly worsened.

She had to give up her job and her mother had to move into her home near Cowbridge to help her husband cope.

Infected meat

GPs and specialists diagnosed Karen as suffering from depression.

It was only three weeks before she died that CJD was suspected and the diagnosis was confirmed following a post mortem examination.

New variant CJD is contracted by humans after eating infected meat from cattle.

Seventy-four people are known to have died from so-called "mad cow disease".

In his closing statement Lord Phillips - who chaired the inquiry - said no-one can say whether or not those who have died from CJD are just the "tip of an iceberg" of infection.

For Nigel Beavon the top priority is to raise awareness of the symptoms, so other families can get the medical and nursing help that they were denied.