Humans cannot get mad cow disease, but they can get a variant of the disease if they eat food contaminated with the diseased tissue of sick cattle.
Mad cow disease is the common name for a disease affecting cattle that slowly destroys the brain and spinal cord.
The human form, called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), is a rare and fatal degenerative disorder that destroys the brain and spinal cord over time.
Keep reading to learn more about mad cow disease in humans, including the transmission and symptoms, as well as when to see a doctor.

Humans cannot get the same form of mad cow disease as cattle.
Mad cow disease, known medically as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a progressive neurological disorder in cattle. The disease gets worse over time, slowly eating away at the brain and spinal cord.
The exact cause is still unclear, though according to the
Cattle get the disease by eating animal feed that includes the remains of infected cattle. Humans cannot get this form of the disease. However, people can get a human variant of the disease, called vCJD.
The
Other possible causes are outliers, such as a 2020 case featuring in the New England Journal of Medicine of a technician who contracted the disease after cutting their thumb while handling diseased brain tissue.
vCJD is just one type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Other forms of the disease may occur that have no connection to mad cow disease.
The three other types of CVD are:
- Hereditary CJD: This type occurs in people who have a family history of the disease or a genetic mutation associated with CJD.
- Acquired CJD: The acquired form transmits via exposure to brain or nerve tissue, generally during medical procedures.
- Sporadic CJD: This type appears when a person has no known risk factors.
These forms of CJD usually appear later in life and have a very fast disease course. The
vCJD follows a specific pattern that these other forms do not. The onset of the variant form of the disease tends to occur at a younger age, with the symptoms lasting longer than those of other forms of CJD.
The
Additionally, people cannot get the disease from drinking milk or eating dairy products. The only common way for both humans and cows to contract the disease is to eat food containing contaminated tissue from cows that have the disease.
The disease also has an incubation period, so the person is unlikely to feel sick immediately after consuming the contaminated food. It may take
vCJD is a degenerative disease, meaning that it gets worse over time. The disease damages brain tissue, leading to symptoms such as:
- psychiatric problems
- psychotic episodes
- nerve issues, such as stinging, burning, or electric shock sensations in the extremities and face
- muscle jerks
- poor coordination
- problems with vision
- dementia
- difficulty moving parts of the body
- inability to walk
- coma
vCJD is a fatal condition. As the disease affects more and more brain tissue, the symptoms will get worse over time before the person dies. According to the FDA, of the
There is no known cure for vCJD. Instead, treatment focuses on supporting the person and easing other symptoms they may feel as the disease progresses. For example, doctors may provide walking devices, drugs to ease pain, or other supportive care for the person.
vCJD is extremely rare. The NINDS note that about
In most cases, another underlying condition is likely causing similar symptoms. However, it is still important to speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
Anyone experiencing troubling symptoms, such as tingling or stinging sensations in their arms, legs, or face, should see a doctor. Many nerve-related conditions could cause these symptoms, and a prompt diagnosis may help give the person a better outlook.
Government agencies, such as the FDA and CDC, have taken steps in recent years to help prevent all forms of mad cow disease. The
These regulations help ensure that any food that a person comes into contact with is free from the abnormal proteins that may cause the disease.
The
Mad cow disease occurs when cattle consume damaged proteins in the brain or spinal tissue of other cattle in their feed.
A variant of this disease, called vCJD, may occur in humans who eat meat contaminated with proteins from the brain or spinal tissue of a sick cow.
Government programs and regulations have now banned the practices that could potentially allow contaminated proteins to enter the food supply in both humans and animals.
There is no known treatment for the equivalent of mad cow disease in humans. The disease progressively gets worse and is eventually fatal after several years.
Anyone noticing any of the symptoms of vCJD should see a doctor. Although various other issues may cause similar symptoms, a quick diagnosis is important in any case.