Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as 'Mad Cow Disease,' is a progressive, fatal neurological disorder affecting cattle. This zoonotic...
BSE, or 'Mad Cow Disease,' is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting cattle, characterized by spongy degeneration of the brain and spinal cord tissue.
BSE is primarily transmitted when cattle consume feed contaminated with brain or spinal cord tissue from infected cattle. This practice is now strictly regulated or banned globally.
Yes, humans can develop variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) by consuming contaminated beef products from BSE-infected cattle, though cases are extremely rare due to stringent control measures.
While cases are very rare globally thanks to extensive surveillance and feed bans, international vigilance and strict control measures remain in place to prevent its re-emergence and ensure food safety.