Rare Disease Possibly Contracted Through Surgery

Aretha,22, is confined to a hospital bed, unconscious, inside Maryview Medical Center.  Her family says her health rapidly got worse after having gastrobypass surgery less than three months ago.  They say her motor skills began to worsen and her memory began to fade.

"This is a very rare condition," said Dr. Demetria Lindsay, Director of the Portsmouth Health Department.  "It is not easily passed from person to person.  You can not get it from casual contact or even close contact."

Doctors say there are only about 200 cases of CJD in the United States every year.  They say it's passed through surgeries and in rare situations by eating meat.  The Health Department says there is no reason to worry, but they are trying to figure out how Aretha got it. Click here to read the full story.