About Mad Cow Disease Essay Example

have global implications, even for countries unaffected by the disease. Although not a recent phenomenon, Mad Cow Disease has been present for several decades. Precautions and regulations should have been implemented in European countries and the United States long ago. Fortunately, the United States has been fortunate in its geographical separation from the issues occurring in European nations.

This paper explores the history and timing of infection in most counties within affected areas, as well as the impact on agriculture and economy in those countries. Furthermore, it discusses the consequences for the United States while also examining the measures implemented by governments and other nations to safeguard against the spread and incubation of Mad Cow Disease.


Mad Cow Disease is an uncommon neurological disorder that affects both animals and humans' central nervous system. It causes progressive and severe damage to the infected brain. This disease falls under the classification of Spongiform Encephalopathy, wherein brain tissue becomes porous, spongy, and loses its integrity (Brown 1).

Cattle affected by this deadly disease will exhibit clinical signs such as aggression, atypical posture, difficulty in rising, decreased milk production, and eventual death (Clinical Signs BSE). This disease originated in Europe but has been spreading since 1980, reaching our shores and causing widespread devastation. According to Lexis Nexis, during the week of January 28th – February 2, 2001, there were 719 press releases highlighting the severity of Mad Cow Disease, with half of the stories originating from England (McArthur 1). How does this dreadful disease that affects both humans and animals come about? It was first discovered in slaughtered sheep and unmanageable cattle. The owners had difficulty in monitoring their behaviors

and actions. After the sheep and cattle were slaughtered, autopsies revealed the presence of Encephalopathic brain consistency. This can be described as a brain that becomes porous in physicality and appearance.

It has been observed that cattle harvests are given sheep bone meal as a supplement to their normal diets. Some sheep used for bone meal production carry a disease called Scrapie, which can lead to Mad Cow Disease in other animals that consume this bone meal. One possible explanation for the development and spread of Mad Cow Disease is that a cow ingested bone meal from a sheep infected with Scrapie, which then caused the cattle to become infected through a spreading agent known as Prion (proteinaceous particle). These Prions are small, fast-moving, and destructive particles that can be transmitted between humans and animals. Prions are extremely resilient and cannot be easily eliminated, as they can survive filtration, thermal treatments, radiation, and chemical processes. Moreover, they do not contain DNA or RNA (University of Wisconsin 1-4).

Mad Cow Disease, a life-threatening illness caused by consuming contaminated beef, is a growing concern. Over the past decade, 1.5 million animals have been found to be infected with BSE (Martin 1-3). Diagnostic procedures for diagnosed patients include CT scans, ECGs, bone marrow examinations, lumbar punctures, chest X-rays, endoscopies, and blood tests. However, these tests do not show the presence of the disease despite its existence in patients. The disease can be transmitted through intimate contact with affected material but is not contagious (Martin 1-3). Both humans and cattle suffer from different forms of the disease - vCJD in humans and DCS in approximately 100,000 deceased cattle annually due

to this condition (Klepper 1). Although challenging to diagnose solely based on medical tests alone, the disease does exhibit symptoms.

Physical symptoms such as sore joints and muscles can occur. Psychiatric problems may also manifest, including personality changes, depression, difficulty sleeping, withdrawal, fearfulness, paranoia, and potential development of Alzheimer’s disease (Lawrence 6).

If a cow's immune system becomes contaminated with Mad Cow disease, it can experience drooling, wobbling resembling a drunken state, formation of holes in the brain, and ultimately sudden death. The incubation period for this illness can extend up to ten years (8). Considering that this disease has been discovered in the U.S., it is something worth pondering upon.

In 1985, additional research was conducted to address the prevention of BSE contamination in the human food chain. Measures such as culling sick animals and banning specified risk materials (SRM’s) have been implemented in Europe. These actions aim to prevent the entry of potentially BSE infected tissues into the food chain. To minimize exposure, individuals can reduce their intake of beef or opt for solid muscle meat which does not contain spinal cord and brain matter, unlike hamburger meat. Hamburger meat is derived from the cow's spinal cord, which is connected to the brain, potentially leading to the presence of contaminated tissues carrying the BSE prion. Our research indicates that the risk of acquiring BSE from milk and other dairy products is unlikely.

Although dairy products are unlikely to transmit the disease, certain countries like Germany and France have stringent food control regulations. They claim that even a single slice of lunch meat has been inspected (McArthur 1). It can be inferred that blood transfusions could potentially transmit

the disease. Particularly in Europe, specifically the United Kingdom, blood transfusions were limited due to the high risk of BSE transmission. English hospitals have reported that vCJD can be transmitted if unclean surgical instruments are used.

British Ministers are implementing measures to prevent the transmission of tonsillitis. These measures include mandating the use of disposable instruments during surgeries and implementing a new decontamination process for reusable surgical equipment (Times News Paper 1).

In addition, task committees have been established to address concerns regarding Mad Cow Disease. The British government aims to promote closer collaboration within Europe in order to stop the spread of the disease and develop a comprehensive prevention system (Times News Paper 1).

Classical Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), which is the human form of BSE, affects the central nervous system and causes degeneration of the brain (About Classical CJD).

Cases of this rare disease have been reported in countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, despite not being affected by scrapie or BSE (Classical CJD in the U.S.A.).

The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) has announced that in either 1994 or 1995, ten patients were impacted by Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD). It should be emphasized that there are distinct dissimilarities between the classical form of CJD and variant CJD. The average age for individuals affected by vCJD was twenty-eight, whereas those with the classical type had an average age of sixty-three.

The duration of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) is approximately thirteen months, while Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) has a shorter duration of six months. Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, which refers to the brain's electrical activity, was observed in vCJD cases but not in CJD cases. Research conducted by the

Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) suggests a possible connection between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and vCJD as they share similarities. The study involved four groups of mice: one group consisted of crossbred mice, while the other three groups were made up of inbred mice. Mice infected with BSE exhibited symptoms similar to those seen in mice infected with vCJD, whereas classical CJD did not show these symptoms.

History From 1985– Present: In recent years, Mad Cow Disease has affected a large number of European livestock. The initial occurrence of this disease was observed in the UK in 1985 when 133 cows experienced brain damage, weight loss, and other abnormalities. The disease was officially identified in 1986. In order to investigate and establish a connection between the disease, the United Kingdom established the National CJD Surveillance Unit in 1990. This initiative sparked significant concern across Europe.

In 1992-1993, around 100,000 cows were confirmed to have Mad Cow Disease, marking the peak of BSE. The first recorded case of vCJD, resulting in a human death, occurred in 1995. Three more individuals in the UK also lost their lives to the disease that year. Despite these fatalities, scientists and doctors were unsure about any link between Mad Cow Disease and vCJD.

In March 1996, the United Kingdom Health Secretary, Stephen Dorrel, announced a connection between Mad Cow disease and vCJD. As a result, British beef export was banned and all cattle over 30 months old were slaughtered. This measure was taken due to the high cost of testing every single cattle. Subsequently, in 2000 France prohibited beef from being served in restaurants and school canteens, while Italy banned adult cows

and beef from France. In Spain and Germany, the first case of Mad Cow Disease was discovered, leading both countries to order testing on all cattle to alleviate public fears. By the end of 2000, the entire country of France had also been affected by the disease.

The cow infection rate was worse than expected, with a 1 in 500 rate. Both Belgium and Italy were affected by this disease in early 2001. Thankfully, the United States has only had a minor outbreak in some regions like Texas. However, none of these areas have been officially confirmed to have the outbreak.

The outbreak of Mad Cow Disease has not reached the United States, possibly due to the country's lack of beef importation from Europe and the prohibition of feeding livestock ground up bone from animals, as done in European states. The disease has worrisome effects on the brain and intelligence of its victims, which could easily cause hysteria if it were to spread. The media would undoubtedly capitalize on the infected and dying individuals, amplifying society's fears of losing control and motor skills.

The media's depiction of the issue induces fear and anxiety among individuals regarding consuming meat, resulting in a significant reduction in meat consumption, particularly in affected regions. This decline is also evident in America, despite the absence of the disease. Germany experienced a similar pattern with a fifty percent decrease in meat consumption upon becoming informed about the illness.

There are concerns that the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease could lead to a global epidemic, potentially resulting in the extinction of life on Earth. The environmental consequences would be significant if this disease were to enter

the wild or rainforests, where scientists find valuable plant remedies that would then become contaminated. It would require significant intervention to control the spread of the disease in these uncontrolled environments. Additionally, enforcing mandatory Mad Cow testing for all living animals within US borders or by other countries would have substantial financial implications.

Agricultural Scenario and Mad Cow Disease

French farmers are experiencing the consequences of the disease. Typically, at this hour, the slaughterhouse team would be getting ready for their afternoon shift. However, there is currently no work available. The demand for beef has dropped by thirty percent and occasionally even fifty percent on specific days. Emotions and worries surfaced when a farmer was caught trying to sell an infected cow to a nearby slaughterhouse.

Despite the efforts of the police, the cow's slaughter was prevented. However, a significant amount of beef from the same group has already been sold in the market, amounting to over a thousand pounds (Daley). It is not only French farmers who are engaging in illegal activities, as five Britons were convicted of illegally selling large quantities of unhealthy chicken. This operation, which generated millions of dollars, was evidently a contributing factor to the significant number of cases in Britain (Five Britons).

The agribusiness greed has affected the cattle industry in the United States, which is worth billions of dollars annually. This greed hindered the timely and truthful disclosure of Mad Cow Disease. Despite a nearly 50% decline in American beef consumption since 1980, the industry remains highly profitable. In 1996, only 15% of cattle farmers reported profitability, whereas now it stands at 85%. Notably, Europe's Mad Cow Disease crisis has benefited BSE-free

meat exports by increasing them by thirty-four percent last year. Russian imports from America have surged more than twenty times compared to the previous year. While this widespread disease has been advantageous for most businesses, McDonald's suffered significant losses in Europe as a result.

American Farmers and agriculture businesses are currently thriving as countries affected by BSE seek uncontaminated beef with higher safety standards. However, there are concerns that the USDA may withhold information about any BSE-infected cows found in the United States to prevent public panic and a collapse of the agricultural market. BSE was previously undetectable in Britain but the rapid changes in the industry and environment led to an increase in its occurrence. Once BSE initially appeared in cattle, it spread freely through the industry and environment as an unforeseen event.

A very practical reason for the spread of Mad Cow Disease in Britain during the 1980's was the cannibalistic practice of feeding cows ground up protein from dead cows, sheep, and other animals. Although the occurrence of BSE, the actual disease, was originally rare in natural cases, it started to increase in reported cases after this type of animal recycling began. The British government's worst action was dishonestly claiming that BSE would never pose a risk to humans. The British public became alarmed when death notices were reported for a related disease known as vCJD.

The number of BSE cases dropped from tens of thousands to about one thousand after the slaughter of millions of cows. However, it seems that England did not learn from past occurrences as they continued the cannibalistic activities during the 1990’s. As a result, the number of deaths from

BSE is now rising rapidly. While most European nations have only found a few hundred confirmed cases, Great Britain has confirmed at least 200,000 cases of BSE. The US has also failed to close loopholes in the firewall against Mad Cow Disease, allowing the feeding of potentially infectious cow parts to other cattle without proper monitoring. On Jan 10th, 2001, the FDA charged livestock-feed producers and rendering plants that use slaughterhouse waste as a cheap feed supplement.

There is widespread noncompliance with feed labeling and mixing regulations, resulting in over 180 large cattle rendering companies having incorrect labels on their bags. This creates a common breeding ground for bacteria and the Cvjd disease. Additionally, there are loopholes in the Federal regulation that allow the importation of bovine byproducts. These byproducts include milk, blood, fat, gelatin, tallow, bone mineral extracts, collagen, and semen. However, it is important to consider banning byproducts like milk due to the potential presence of infectious prions. Although it is not often mentioned, there is a rare chance that milk can contain infectious prions. A 1992 Japanese study published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that human breast milk can transmit prions, which may include mad cow prions. Similar transmission has also been shown in sheep.

The US government's negligence is likely to have unforeseen consequences for the country, given that the US has one of the highest beef consumption rates globally. It is well-known that Mad Cow Disease first appeared in 1986, leading to the US Department of Agriculture's prohibition of importing cattle and other beef items from affected nations in 1989.

In the 1990s, the United States implemented a ban on

the entry of live sheep and cattle from Britain, as well as rendered animal protein. This measure was taken to prevent the spread of disease between animals. At that time, it was believed that this regulation could effectively halt the spread of the newly discovered disease. However, in the late 1990s, scientists discovered that the disease could be transmitted by ruminants and offal, which are grass-eating animals. In 1997, the FDA enforced a prohibition on feeding ruminant alpha to any members of the ruminant family. More recently, on May 26, 2001, President Bush signed the Animal Disease Risk Assessment, Prevention and Control Act of 2001.

This act helps assemble a team of officials from the agriculture, health, and safety sectors to ensure that the government is making every effort to prevent the entry of Mad Cow Disease and other foreign diseases into the United States. The global impact of Mad Cow Disease has affected everyone to varying degrees. Europe, in particular, has been severely affected by this traumatic disease, altering eating habits and business practices. Germany, Italy, France, and Britain are among the countries that have been exposed to the disease and are striving to contain and control it before it escalates. In Germany, the first case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease was reported in November 2000. Prior to this, German Agricultural Minister Karl-Heinz Funke faced criticism for not taking the matter more seriously and was even accused of downplaying the threat posed by BSE in Germany.

Germany has seen a rise in reported cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), which is suspected to be the human equivalent of Mad Cow Disease. There have

been two additional cases reported since then. The concern about the disease has resulted in a significant drop in beef sales by butchers in Germany, with a decrease of 90%. Conversely, the prices of poultry and horse meat have dramatically increased. In Italy, there have only been two reported cases of the diseases, both of which were imported from other countries.

Italy is not overly concerned about the issue, as long as its citizens consume meat that is produced within the country and not imported. Tumor specialist, Veronesi, suggests that Italy should ban animal meal in feed for other animals to prevent the risk of similar diseases occurring in other species. Additionally, Italy now tests every bovine animal over the age of two before it is slaughtered for consumption (Italy's health minister...). France, on the other hand, has reported a total of 176 cases, with 96 occurring in the recent year (BSE and nvCJD cases...). One of the measures taken by France is the prohibition of T-bone steaks. Prime Minister Lionel Jospin is also working towards eliminating animal-based feeds, although it will take 3-4 months to fully implement this measure nationwide. The aim is to prevent cross-contamination of feeds for different animals, such as cows, chickens, pork, and fish (Georges-Picot).

Britain has reported approximately 177,416 cases of the disease, indicating that the situation in Britain is significantly worse compared to other countries. Despite the majority of these cases occurring in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were still around 3,000 cases reported in the last two years. These cases specifically refer to BSE and nvCJD cases.

In response to the panic in Britain, the government decided to

impose an embargo on beef imports from France. This decision was prompted by concerns raised by the French regarding the inadequacy of their controls over BSE.

One reason for the presence of BSE in the UK but not in the US is the lower ratio of sheep to cattle in the US. In the UK there are approximately forty million sheep and only twelve million cattle, resulting in a ratio of three sheep to one cow. In contrast, the US has around ten million sheep compared to a hundred million cattle, resulting in a ratio of one sheep to ten cows. This reduced ratio in the US decreases the likelihood of Scrapie, a disease that can transmit BSE from sheep to cattle, being transmitted between the two species (Transmission of BSE).

The United States has only reported three Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE's) - Scrapie, Transmissible Mink Encepthalopathy, and Chronic Wasting Disease of deer and elk. Fortunately, Mad Cow and vCJD disease have not been detected in the US. Some attribute this to the country's self-sufficiency in meat production and limited importation of unpopular meat types like baby back ribs from Denmark. However, the recent controversy surrounds the lifting of the ban on European meat imports. In May 2001, the Bush administration relaxed the ban, allowing certain unaffected countries to trade beef and other products. Despite some testing, there is a possibility that infected shipments could have already entered the US and ended up in consumer freezers, awaiting preparation for evening family dinners.

Another potential approach could involve not only examining the meats being imported for the disease, but also implementing stricter regulations and penalties for feed mills and

rendering plants. It is important to ensure that no animals are fed the ground bones of other animals, as this would prevent the spread of the disease within our own country.

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