He said: ''In this incident we do not have a single confirmed case of CJD. However, we do have one patient who was at high risk and 38 people at extremely low risk.
''We know all the surgical instruments used on this group of patients were cleaned, disinfected and sterilised normally. However, it is possible that the proteins which cause CJD, known as prions, survived these routine sterilisation procedures so an extremely small risk of transmission remains.''
The original operation involving the ''index case'' occurred in 2007 at one of ABMU's four main hospitals in South Wales - Singleton and Morriston in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
Dr Hoffman said at the time of the surgery the index case's high risk of developing CJD was not known by doctors at the hospital or the GP.
Once the high risk of the patient was identified in 2009 - before another operation - PHW contacted the UK CJD incidents panel made up of experts from around the UK.
Health officials then investigated what instruments had been used in the original operation and their subsequent usage.
It was in February this year that the panel said the health board should contact the 38 patients involved.
PHW said it would not provide any further details on the index case, such as what hospital or the age or sex of the person, in case it identified them.
However, in explaining why the number of those who are now at risk was a relatively low number - given the number of operations ABMU had performed in the two-year time period - Dr Hoffman explained it was because the the operations were of a ''specialist'' nature.
Of the 38 people who are at ''low risk'' - 37 were from Mid and West Wales and one was from North Wales.
Dr Hoffman would not be drawn on whether the 38 had donated blood since the operations, but confirmed Public Health Wales had contacted the Welsh Blood Service.
But he stressed the likelihood of someone contracting CJD "from a contact of a contact" was highly unlikely.
"All patients at risk have been contacted and there is no risk to anybody else," said Dr Hoffman. "People who have had any type of surgery in the ABMU area since 2007 but have not been contacted by us have no reason at all to worry."
Dr Hoffman said he personally spoken to two of the patients and they were obviously "worried and upset".
"We do understand that it's very upsetting for the patients to live with this uncertainty for years to come," he added.
"Our advice is they should carry on to live their lives as before."
CJD is a rare disease that affects the structures of the brain and causes incurable neurological symptoms. There is no cure or treatment.
PHW said anyone who is aware they are at increased risk of CJD should not donate blood or organs and should always inform their surgeon or doctor before undergoing "any health procedure".
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