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 relationship between BSE in cattle and vCJD in humans?

What practices have helped control the spread of BSE?