Death related to Mad Cow Disease?
Is a new form of “mad cow disease” or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJK) about ready to sweep the UK? A 39 year old woman recently died of a variant of CJK and scientists are worried that this new death might be attributed to a variant in the prion disease that causes CJK; they have dubbed this new disease vCKJ. Although scientists are saying there is nothing to panic about yet, it is a red flag indicating that neurologists should be on their toes.
How does this affect us in the USA? Animals that are lurching around (a symptom of prion infection) are being slaughtered and sent out for processing in the human food chain. USDA has implemented a policy for minimal testing. In the meantime, farmers are not following recommendations regarding feeding cattle feed impregnated with other animal protein, a practice known to spread the deadly prion diseses.
According to the recent report in The New Scientist (January 2, 2008), once the vCKJ establishes itself in the US food supply - the worlds largest livestock market-the market will be shattered, people may become ill and food prices will spiral exponentially. Although scientists are working on cloned cows free of prions, the research and testing will take another two years while the already cloned (but not prion resistant) cattle are being released unwittingly into our food chain. And, we have no choice since there will be no labeling as to whether the beef we are eating is from a cloned animal or not. Prion diseases that cause CJK and vCJK are transmitted by blood, contact with nervous tissue and genetically.
Incubation is 7-10 years; cattle infected may be sent to slaughter with no symptoms.
Public release date: 16-Jan-2008
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/l-nhs011108.php
About the Author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
