Forum Archive Index - January 2004

["Woody" <solarmax@optusnet.com.au>]

What is "Mad Cow Disease" (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)?

Mad Cow Disease is the layperson's name for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a transmissible, slowly progressive, degenerative, fatal disease affecting the central nervous system of adult cattle. There is no evidence to date of BSE affecting U.S. cattle, ^* despite an aggressive surveillance program under which nearly 20,000 animals were tested last year.

No meat products from ruminant animals from the 33 countries identified as having BSE or at risk for having BSE are allowed in the U.S. This includes meat products used in human, animal, and pet foods. Milk and milk products continue to be imported into the U.S. from these countries because milk and milk products are not believed to pose any risk for transmitting BSE to humans. Experiments have shown that milk from BSE-infected cows has not caused infections in the same species or in other test animals.

set the record straight macduck

Woody