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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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BSE
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-03
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Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy or more
commonly known as mad cow desease is a
disease of cattle, allied to scrapie in
sheep, which attacks the nervous system,
causing aggression, lack of coordination,
and collapse. It was first identified in
1986, it is almost entirely confined to the
UK. By early 1994 it had claimed 115,000
British cattle, as well as some domestic cats
and a few exotic mammals in captivity. The
source of the disease has been traced to
manufactured protein feed incorporating the
rendered brains of scrapie infected sheep.
Following the ban on the use of offal in feed
in 1988, the epidemic continued, indicating
that the disease could be transmitted from
cows to their calves. Despite official
assurance, there is concern that consumption
of beef products or contact with sick animals
may give rise to CJD. Of over 200 deaths from
CJD in the UK from 1990-1996, 22 occurred in
farmers or others who had worked with
livestock. In the early part of 1996 a
European beef ban was put into force as new
cases of CJD has been reported in humans.
In July 1996 scientists at the Institute of
Animal Health reported the possibility that
sheep may also be infected with BSE.
Subject by: John Denver