disease that has no cure. the patients were operated on between may and august who died of the disease. >> it was very shocking. >> that's the president of the catholic medical center talking. you can only image what it was like for 8 new hampshire residents who don't know if they have a fatal brain disease. it is called cjd. there's no treatment or cure. >> once symptoms occur the average time of death is about 4 months. there is no treatment there is no cure and there's no screening test. >> the 8 former patients got the news after it was determined they were exposed to the same neurosurgical equipment used on a person who had a brain cyst removed here in may. doctors were unaware the patient had suspected cjd.