Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease is primarily transmitted via which route?

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is primarily associated with the consumption of beef products contaminated with the prion responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease. The disease arises from the ingestion of malformed prion proteins, which can be present in contaminated meat products. Therefore, foodborne transmission is the correct route for vCJD, highlighting the significance of animal feed regulations and beef safety measures in preventing the spread of the disease.

While blood transfusion has been recognized as a possible transmission route, the predominant method of acquiring vCJD remains through food consumption. This contrasts with airborne transmission, which is not relevant to prion diseases, and vector-borne transmission, typically associated with diseases carried by insects such as mosquitoes or ticks, which also does not apply in this context.