Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly called "mad cow disease" or BSE, is a fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system in cattle.

On Dec. 23, 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly called "mad cow disease" or BSE, had been found in Washington state.

Consumers should keep several facts in mind:
Because of the United States' testing programs and cattle feeding practices, an outbreak on the scale of that which occurred in Great Britain is virtually impossible. Our system was designed to catch the isolated cases that are likely to occur and prevent the disease from spreading from those isolated cases. When we find a case, it is evidence that our system works – not that it has broken down.

The human health risk from this case is infinitesimal. The risky parts of the animal went into inedible products, not the animal or human food chain.

Milk does not contain the prions that science believes cause BSE. Dairy products are safe. Likewise, muscle tissue – meat – is generally safe because the prions are not found there.

In addition to the rendering processes and feeding practices that Great Britain used and so, unknowingly spread the disease, British people were eating different dishes than we in the U.S. do. Dishes and sausages containing brains and other organ meats that may have nervous tissue – and prions – were common in Great Britain.

For more information about how this case of BSE affects Wisconsin, read our news releases and listen to audio interviews.

Prevention
The United States takes a multi-pronged approach to preventing BSE: banning certain imports, banning suspect feed ingredients, testing for the disease, banning nonambulatory animals from slaughter, and banning risky animal tissues from human food.

Symptoms
Clinical signs of BSE may include behavioral changes, abnormal posture, decreased milk production and more.

Possible Causes
The leading theory is that the infectious agent is not a bacteria, virus, or other microorganism. Rather, many scientists believe that proteins in the animal's brain called prions that somehow become abnormal.

Where is BSE Happening?
BSE was first diagnosed in the United Kingdom in 1986, and has since been found in 23 other European nations, including the United States.

BSE and Chronic Wasting Disease
These two diseases are in the same family but have important differences.

BSE and Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Similarities and differences between BSE and foot-and-mouth disease.

New-Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
This new human disease has been linked to BSE. Although scientists are not in complete agreement as to what causes either disease or how the diseases are transmitted.

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are a family of central nervous system diseases that afflict cattle, sheep, cats, and humans.

Economic Impacts - 5 page PDF
Wisconsin has much to lose in the BSE scare.

Fast Facts About BSE - 2 page PDF
A printable document with informative facts on the cause, history, number of cases and more. You will need a PDF reader to view this document.

Resources
Links to federal agencies and international organizations providing information on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.