CJD is a disease caused by a misfolding protein, called a prion. (PREE-on) Prion diseases are a group of rare and fatal brain diseases which occur in both humans and animals. In humans, it is known as CJD. Cows get BSE, which stands for bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Deer and elk contract CWD, or chronic wasting disease. There is no cure or clinical diagnosis for CJD. There is no cure for any of the diseases in the prion family.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Canada announces 7th mad cow

Canada has indeed found it's seventh cow with BSE in what CIDRAP reports is the second finding this month. U.S. Agriculutre Secretary Mike Johanns has sent an American expert to aid in the investitation because this BSE-positive cow was four years old -- therefore born after the feed ban went into effect in 1997.

Kind of makes you wonder how many four-year-old, BSE-positive cows are making it onto dinner plates in America, considering how few cattle are tested here and considering how people like Johanns are banking on the fact that 4-year-old cows aren't supposed to get BSE...

posted by Heather Larson at Saturday, July 15, 2006

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