Mad cow disease, scientifically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a transmissible neurodegenerative disease affecting cattle. It is characterized by the accumulation of an abnormal form of protein, called a prion, in the brain and spinal cord, leading to severe neurological symptoms.
The disease is believed to be caused by the ingestion of contaminated meat and bone meal derived from infected cattle. The prion responsible for the disease is highly resistant to heat, disinfection, and various other factors that normally render pathogens inactive, making it exceptionally difficult to eliminate.
Symptoms of mad cow disease include behavioral changes, loss of coordination, difficulty in movement, reduced milk production, and eventually, progressive degeneration of the nervous system. The disease is typically fatal for the affected animals.
Moreover, mad cow disease can also pose a significant risk to humans. Consuming meat from infected cattle can lead to a variant form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans. vCJD is a fatal, incurable condition characterized by similar degeneration of the brain and central nervous system.
Following the identification of the disease in the 1980s, rigorous control measures were implemented globally to prevent the spread of mad cow disease and protect human health. These measures include strict monitoring of cattle for signs of the disease, implementing feed bans to prevent the use of infected byproducts as animal feed, and the rapid removal and proper disposal of infected animals.
This comprehensive response aims to minimize the risk of both animal and human infection with mad cow disease.
