BSE - commonly known as mad cow disease, is a fatal disease that causes progressive neurological degeneration in cattle. Similar to BSE, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare disease that occurs in humans. In 1996, following outbreaks of BSE among British cattle, scientists found a possible link between BSE and a new variant of CJD (vCJD). While it is not certain how BSE may be spread to humans, evidence indicates that humans may acquire vCJD after consuming BSE-contaminated cattle products.
According to a CFIA statement, the diseased cow is believed to be exposed to a very small amount of infective material, most likely during its first year of life. The infected animal was discovered at an unidentified farm under routine screening of cattle believed to be at risk of contracting the disease. The CFIA has begun investigating the source of feed the bull ate early in its life.
In a bid to curb the disease in 1997, Canada banned the inclusion of protein from ruminants like cattle and sheep in cattle feed that are believed to be linked to the spread of the disease.
Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, told CanWest news agency, "We know that there's the likelihood that we'll find a few additional cases, but we're well on our way to eradication."
Older cattle and their beef products are still banned from the U.S., although there are chances of the trade to be resumed between two countries. The infection caused an estimated loss of $7 billion to the Canadian cattle industry. The last case of mad cow disease was detected in August 2006 in northern Alberta.
