Mad Cow Disease on the Rise

by LotusFlower | December 18, 2008 at 04:23 pm

651 views | 26 Recommendations | 17 comments

Mad cow disease or as it should be called variant CJD is raising its head again as experts warn that up to 350 people could die from the disease.

The worry is that new cases have been detected in people with a different genetic make up to those that have already died all of whom shared a version of a particular gene.

Doctors fear a new wave of the human form of "mad cow disease" is about to hit Britain, BBC Newsnight has learned.

In the UK, 164 people have died of variant CJD, which originally came from cows infected with BSE, and all cases shared a version of a certain gene.

But Newsnight has been told of a new case in a separate genetic group.

The government's chief adviser on vCJD, Professor Chris Higgins, said estimates were that up to 350 people could become affected by this new type.

He told Newsnight the new case had been diagnosed on a clinical basis as vCJD.

A BRITISH man is feared to have a new form of “mad cow disease” which could kill hundreds.

Scientists suspect he has a different genetic make-up to previous sufferers.

And Government adviser Professor Chris Higgins warned the new wave of vCJD could double the number of deaths from the earlier one.

That was caused by eating infected beef during the 80s and early 90s. It has killed 164 people in this country so far.

All had an MM genetic make-up, which covers 42 per cent of the population. But tests suggest the latest victim has an MV gene type — 47 per cent of the population.

Docs cannot be sure until a biopsy after his death.

VCJD attacks brain tissue and is incurable. Experts fear more than 1,000 people could be incubating the disease without showing symptoms.

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158

at 19:46 on December 18th, 2008

Very good.

I had thought mad cow was finished.

Paschen

at 22:52 on December 18th, 2008

That was to be expected with the lack of feed control.

www.chrisammondphoto.com

at 13:27 on December 19th, 2008

It seems that when the avian flu hype dies down, mad cow disease comes back into the spotlight, and vice-versa.

Barbara McPherson

at 18:43 on December 19th, 2008

Canadian Blood Services does not want blood from people who spent a certain amount of time in Britain during the height of the Mad Cow outbreak. N. America has a form of it indigenous to squirrels -- so much for squirrel stew. Also deer in Colorado exhibit similar symptoms. Rigorous testing needs to be done on all slaughtered animals. I understand that Japan manages to test all beef, why can't N. America? I'd rather pay more for my meat than get CJv.

mr_brightside_0705@hotmail.co.uk

at 16:08 on December 22nd, 2008

Colchester, Essex, England.

mr_brightside_0705@hotmail.co.uk has contributed a photo to this story.

krisfong

at 16:11 on December 22nd, 2008

Photo by Kris Fong, PixelSound Media

krisfong has contributed a photo to this story.

giantsfootsteps

at 16:38 on December 22nd, 2008

Happy cows?

giantsfootsteps has contributed a photo to this story.

reaspring

at 04:26 on December 23rd, 2008

A healthy bull on the Waseley hills in England.

reaspring has contributed a photo to this story.

Kenny BoyTurner

at 08:31 on December 23rd, 2008

Hi, I am glad you liked my shot of this bull who lives on Marsh Farm , South Woodham Ferrers, Essex , England.This is an open farm open to the public and very popular.
Regards,

Ken

Kenny BoyTurner has contributed a photo to this story.

Cee Bee Tee

at 11:13 on December 23rd, 2008

Just another sunny day in South Bedforshire; it's easy to take for granted, being able to wander amongst cattle these days, when you consider the restrictions we face with just about any situation at the moment. I'm just glad to live somewhere where genuine freedom of movement still exists. ( I'm sure the cows feel that way as well!)

Cee Bee Tee has contributed a photo to this story.

mudricky

at 16:01 on December 23rd, 2008

I tend not to worry about these type of food health scares. I just keep eating =:-)

Vonns

at 03:12 on December 24th, 2008

The last day of a hiking holliday of ten days. It was raining the whole day en the last couple of kilometers we had to walk through wet grassland. And then we saw this winner! We don't have cows with a tattoo on there behind in my country...

Vonns has contributed a photo to this story.