What Happened to Mad Cow Disease?

Mad cow disease, or BSE, is a neurological disorder affecting cattle, first identified in the UK in 1986. It is caused by prions, which are deformed proteins that replicate by corrupting other proteins. BSE likely spread through cattle feed containing infected animal remains. A human variant, vCJD, can result from consuming infected beef, leading to severe brain degeneration. Improved farming practices have reduced BSE cases, and no new cases were reported in the UK in 2016. Preventative measures include safer cattle feed and restrictions on blood donations from high-risk areas.

What is the common name for bovine spongiform encephalopathy?

• Foot-and-mouth disease

• Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

• Scrapie

• Mad cow disease

What is the primary cause of BSE in cattle?

• A genetic mutation

• A prion

• A virus

• A bacterium

How did BSE likely spread among cattle?

• Through direct contact with infected animals

• Via ground-up meat and bones in feed

• By airborne transmission

• Through contaminated water

What is the human version of BSE called?

• Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

• Scrapie

• Alzheimer's disease

• Kuru

What measure has helped reduce the risk of vCJD?

• Use of antibiotics in cattle

• Quarantine of infected individuals

• Improved cattle feed practices

• Vaccination of cattle