I was under the impression that it could not be tested for. The "Prions" I believe they are called, cannot be tested for. Please advise, I would love to know more!

It's not exactly 'high tech', they suck out some cow brains (after the cow is dead) and stick them into the head of a mouse.

Mmmmm mmmm, sounds yummy! So in other words the only way to test is to kill the cattle? To me, that means that it can't be tested.

Originally posted by superdude

This one is a little scary if you ask me. A food ban was implemented to stop the spread of the disease, yet another cow has come down with the disease. If the culprit is contaminated food, then how can anyone be sure what is and what isn't contaminated?

If a measure so severe was taken that they banned a foodsource, how can it be possible that this contamination happened. Is there a way to actualy stop this disease?


[edit on 11-1-2005 by Banshee]

You should know that symptoms can take years to manifest. It's entirely possible that the cow was infected prior to the feed ban, and didn't show up until now.

This is why the whole thing is so scary. Since every cow is not tested, they could already have contracted the disorder and not show any signs prior to being slaughtered.

NO ONE will establish (not being studied) whether or not the disease can be passed on prior to manifesting (meaning during a time the animal has it, but has not yet shown any symptoms), and it takes several years for the disease to manifest once infected.

Yes it is scary. It's time to do the right thing, like Great Britain had to do. Start killing cattle that have been anywhere in the vicinity of these infected cattle. If we don't the consequences will be worse later. But we are a people that needs to wait until later. We actually need to lose a coulple thousand people before we start our investigations. Before you know it, a couple years from now, Bush will be napalming Canadian Cattle ranches.

That effectively ruined my appetite (Was going to have beef for dinner)
It's not Albertan beef, but I highly doubt it's isolated to the West.

Relentless, it couldn't have been infected prior to the ban. It hadn't been born.
Though, I wonder if BSE can be transmitted from Mamma cow to calf?

Also, I'm wondering about this.

I'm aware the UK has over 150,000 cattle test positive for BSE and there have been several cases of vCJD in the UK attributed to BSE. They keep saying you can eat the beef muscle products, like steak ground beef, etc., but what will infect you are the brains, eyes and spinal tissues of the infected cows. Were the British eating these parts of the cows either directly or were they combined in ground beef?

Originally posted by parrhesia
Relentless, it couldn't have been infected prior to the ban. It hadn't been born.
Though, I wonder if BSE can be transmitted from Mamma cow to calf?

Then this is even worse, I was thinking the US Feed ban, which only went into affect a year or two ago. However, note this from the article:

"This is not unexpected," he told a news conference. "Although this animal was born after the feed ban was put in place (in 1997) preliminary information indicates the likely source is contaminated feed and this will be the focus of our investigations."

"I am directing the CFIA to conduct an examination of what this animal may have been fed early in its life and the potential feed source."

A ruminant to ruminant feed ban was introduced in 1997 to stop the spread of the disease through infected tissue. But officials said some infected feed may have been consumed shortly after the ban.

So, first of all, this particular cow was in a tight window that is being somewhat acknowledged. Secondly, another thing that they refuse to establish is whether a pregnant cow with the disease can pass it on either while carrying the calf or through it's milk.

Now, considering the fact that the US feed ban was put into place much later than this one, how many people feel the year or two since the precaustions were finally taken is enough time to feel safe?

Another thing that shuld worry people is that the feeb ban (at least in the US) is for ruminants. But this feed is still considered suitable for non-ruminants (chicken, pigs, your pets). I do believe, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, that these animals then can be used for ruminant feed. It is my understanding that the feed ban in the US is strickly addressing feeding ruminants to ruminants.

The only way to stop this madness (pun intended) is for the public to demand the industry go back to natural feeding, if not entirely organic and this precludes the use of growth hormones (since cattle subjected to growth hormones cannot be sustained on a natural diet). But there is too much money at stake for the drug companies for that to happen via government regulation.

Originally posted by Relentless

So, first of all, this particular cow was in a tight window that is being somewhat acknowledged. Secondly, another thing that they refuse to establish is whether a pregnant cow with the disease can pass it on either while carrying the calf or through it's milk.

And if it's seen to be able to pass from the pregnant cow to the calf through milk... there's another worry. I'm glad I don't drink milk.

You should know that symptoms can take years to manifest. It's entirely possible that the cow was infected prior to the feed ban, and didn't show up until now.

This however is what is so scary, this latest cow was born AFTER the ban.

This cow was born in March 1998 and the feed ban went into effect August 1997. I heard one speculation that the farmer was just using up feed that he had. A costly mistake in m.ore than one way.

They say that if you stay away from meat with bone-in you should be okay.

I believe the feed ban includes chicken ruminants as well because of fear of avian (bird) flu.

Wow, kinda makes you want to become a vegetarian, eh. Not! Nothing goes better with a big ole salad than a gorgeous BBQ steak.

An excerpt from it:

The weaning of calves on cattle blood remains legal and widespread. Cattle blood and fat are fed legally to cattle. Cattle are legally fed to pigs and chickens which are in turn legally fed back to cattle.

And they are still trying to convince us that Mad Cow is under control? Correct me if I am wrong but haven't British researchers confirmed mad cow is transmissible through blood and organ transplant.

Also from the site:

The USDA will sue any company privately testing for mad cow disease. The USDA's own testing program is inadequate and has no transparency. The recent announcement that a suspect cow was eventually found negative has not been confirmed or verified outside of the USDA and therefore should not be trusted.

No oversight - no independent verification - no confidence at least on my part. How many people already have this disease and don't even know it.


B.

Originally posted by Bleys
No oversight - no independent verification - no confidence at least on my part. How many people already have this disease and don't even know it.


B.

EXACTLY! (I really feel that one word makes my point but since that is not allowed......)

The other question becomes how many have it and are diagnosed as something else for damage control? There are an awful lot of degenerative diseases out there to pawn it off on.

Just food for thought .