DOCTORS are monitoring the condition of another person suspected of having the human form of mad cow disease amid fears the case could mark a new milestone for the condition.

The Department of Health said it was aware of another case which would bring the number of people identified as having variant CJD to 102.

But a spokesman was unable to confirm a report in yesterday's Guardian that the victim was a 14-year-old girl.

If the case is confirmed, the girl may be the first victim born after the condition was officially recognised in cattle.

All those so far confirmed as having vCJD were born before November 1986, when pathologists identified BSE.

Frances Hall, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, secretary of the Human BSE Foundation which supports families who have lost loved ones to vCJD and whose son, Peter, died of the disease, said the news was extremely worrying.

She said: "I'm not surprised. There was obviously a lot of infected material going into the food chain after they realised it was a problem.

"They were still writing regulations up until a few years ago as there was still infectivity going on. Because of when this child was born it must have a significance. The reassurances they uttered are starting to ring a bit false."

Asked if she expected to hear of more similar cases, Mrs Hall said: ''I'm sure there will be. Unfortunately I think the number of cases seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.

"I hope I'm wrong but common sense dictates I'm not."

The death toll from vCJD has been growing rapidly in Britain. The first victim died in May 1995.

On June 4, the number of definite and probable cases stood at 101. A total of seven people were still alive.