Mad cow disease is more correctly referred to as, Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Mad cow disease (BSE), is a fatal brain disorder that occurs in cattle and is caused by some unknown agent. In BSE, the unknown agent causes the cow's brain cells to die, forming sponge-like holes in the brain. The cow behaves strangely and eventually dies. The connection between BSE and humans was uncovered in Great Britain in the 1990s when several young people died of a human brain disorder, a new variation of a rare brain disorder called Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD), which typically strikes elderly people. The new variation was called new variant Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (nvCJD). Researchers discovered connections to BSE and nvCJD by narrowing down the followi

During my interview I asked Annie where she thought mad cow disease originated from, and she stated that “Mad Cow disease originates from animals eating other animal’s remains such as brains, spinal chords or tonsils.”

Other scientists believe that BSE emerged spontaneously in cattle. Irrespective of the differences in belief about the origin, scientists agree that prevention, control and curative measures need to be found to combat this disease.

ng ideas. People with the disease had lived in areas where outbreaks of BSE had occurred in cattle. No victims were found in areas without the BSE outbreak. They also noted the brains of humans were similar to the cattle in that they had proteins called prions, but they were different from those of the original CJD. (http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/report/volume2/chapteb2.htm)

The USDA inspects all cattle used for food for signs of neurological diseases. Cattle with unidentified neurological disorders are rejected.

There are four ideas about BSE that are prove facts and may help you protect your self from the disease. The agent that causes mad cow disease must be small. The size must be small or smaller than a Virus. Researchers have learned you cannot kill it by cooking or freezing it. Much Higher temperatures than those used in cooking or sterilizing are required to kill it. Disinfectants do not work as well. Normal chemicals that you would use to disinfect surfaces for bacteria and viruses such a Lysol are no effective. (http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow.htm)

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