Central European Journal of Public Health - Ahead of Print

Unusual occurrence of temporo-spatial cluster of human prion disease in northern part of central Slovakia

Pavol Skáčik, Štefan Sivák, Egon Kurča

Cent Eur J Public Health. X:X  

Objectives: Clusters of human prion diseases have been reported in several endemic regions, notably in Slovakia, Italy, Chile, and Israel,predominantly linked to genetic forms (E200K mutation). Isolated temporo-spatial clusters that include sporadic forms are rarely documented andremain poorly understood. This report describes a unique cluster of prionopathies observed in northern central Slovakia.Methods: Between July 2021 and March 2022, three definitive cases of prion disease were identified in two neighbouring rural villages, Pribovceand Rakovo, in the Martin District of Slovakia. The villages, located within a radius of...