Initial tests indicate that a six-year-old cow in Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada, has Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), otherwise known as Mad Cow Disease. Further tests are being carried out at the National Center for Foreign Animal Disease, Winnipeg. We should know what the final results show either today or tomorrow.
Authorities in Canada say this incident poses no threat to human health, as the animal did not enter the human or animal food chain.
Since May 2003 over 100,000 cows have been tested in Canada. So far, five possible cases have been found.
Canadian beef exporters have suffered financial loss as a result of BSE. The USA and Japan, its main customers, have imposed periods of Canadian beef import bans.
What is BSE?
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a disease that affects adult cattle. It attacks the nervous system of the animal (including brain) and eventually kills it.
BSE has a long incubation period. An infected animal may not show BSE type symptoms for 4 to 6 years.
Symptoms include (for the animal):
— Disorientation
— Clumsiness
— Aggressive behaviour towards other animals and humans (sometimes)
BSE is a type of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathie (TSEs), or Prion Disease. An abnormal amount of Prion Proteins build up in the brain and nervous system. The name TSE is such because of the spongy appearance of the infected brain.
Scrapie, a disease that affects sheep and goats, is another Prion Disease. Scrapie is common in many parts of the world. No link has been found between scrapie and human illness.
How easily BSE infected animals can make humans ill is really unknown. Many experts argue there is no (or virtually no) risk, while others say it is too early to tell, as we do not know what the incubation period for CJD is (the human version of BSE).
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today