A new test using tissue from human tonsils to detect the human form of mad cow disease was hailed today as a breakthrough.

Dr Dealler

Dr Stephen Dealler, a former York expert who gave evidence to the ongoing BSE inquiry, said it could at last mean scientists could determine how widespread the disease was - and if a CJD time bomb is ticking within Britain's population.

But Barry Hodgkinson, the father of North Yorkshire CJD victim Adrian Hodgkinson, warned the test could be a 'double-edged sword.'

It means for the first time scientists will be able to tell whether a living person is incubating the disease.

Mr Hodgkinson said: "There is no cure for the disease, and who wants to know they are going to die?"

Scientists plan to screen thousands of people who have had their tonsils removed using the new test.

A significant positive result would provide early warning of a major epidemic to come and allow time for action aimed at averting the disaster.

Professor John Collinge, from St Mary's Hospital, London, whose research was published today in the Lancet, said the test would give "some idea of the prevalence of new variant CJD, which is unknown - whether it is going to be a relatively small problem or whether thousands are incubating the disease. it may give some advance warning of a major epidemic."

Dr Dealler said today: "This is fantastic news. We just don't know how many people out there are infected with the disease.

"If the levels of CJD infection are as high as some people suspect, it would really get the drug companies moving (in the search for a cure)."

Dr Dealler accepted it would "probably" be best for people who were found to be incubating the disease not to be told they had it.

Farmers reacted angrily today to news the Government is to ask them to pay for the removal of potentially-infective brain, spinal cord and tonsils from cattle, at a cost of more than £21m. NFU president Ben Gill, who farms nears Easingwold, said: "We are deeply concerned by this proposal." see COMMENT 'Tonsil triumph poses dilemma'

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