ask: Is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease related to cleaning carpets?

I am not sure what medical shows you are referring to, but most (credible) sources report CJD as being linked to eating beef from cow with BSE (mad cow disease). There are no known ways to prevent other forms of CJD, including putting babies on recently cleaned carpets!

http://www.empowher.com/condition/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease/prevention

My fault. I think I was referring to Kowasaki Disease. Thanks for the prompt response!

Hi Anonymous,
Kawasaki Disease is common in the Japanese culture and/or as a genetic factor in families. The most common association according the the Children's Hospital says genetic factors increase susceptibility. Kawasaki Disease is still being researched as it is not a common disease in the United States but it does appear that there are some associations between the disease and stagnant water sources (including carpet cleaning machines).

I think the reason that this information was looked at more closely was due to the loss of John Travolta's son who was diagnosed with this little known about disease. At age 16, he collapsed in the Bahamas and died. There have been studies that were completed in the 80s that tried to link carpet shampooing and the disease but in the control group, only half of the children were exposed and therefore, the connection was ruled out.

At this time, there is not enough evidence to suggest a correlation between exposure to carpet cleaning (water only or chemically induced) and Kawasaki Disease in children. A distinct reasoning behind the disease is not known at this time. For more information, here is a link to the Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/kawasaki-disease/DS00576/DSECTION=risk-....

I hope this helps,
Missie