Families with relatives hit by vCJD, the human form of mad cow disease, will
receive compensation from a £55 million trust fund, the British government
announced last week. On average, each family will receive around £120,000.
“I hope these payments go some way towards recognising the pain and trauma
experienced by victims and their families,” says Alan Milburn, the health
minister. So far, 106 people have succumbed to vCJD. Most families have already
had interim payments of £25,000 and will now receive further one-off
payments of £50,000. If more than 250 people develop the disease, the
government will review the fund.
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