Even though the red meat that is contaminated with prions is cook, it will still cause Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This is because prions are infectious protein which have unique structure, are practically invulnerable and surviving even incineration at temperature that is hot enough to melt lead.

Does mad cow disease affect the milk supply?

Human cannot contract BSE instead they can develop a variant disease known as Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD) by eating BSE infected beef. However, it is important to note that scientific research indicates that BSE cannot be transmitted via cow¡¯s milk, even if the milk comes from a cow with BSE. This is because there have never been any evidence of any prions(they are protein, which is the infection agents that cause the spongiform encephalopathies.) being transmitted through milk. Although, we cannot 100% sure about it but there is a very good epidemiologic evidence tht this is not a route of transmission. For instance, if the BSE prion was transmitted in cow milk, wouldn¡¯t we expect to see BSE in calves fed on such milk? There are solid data from the UK that such calves are not infected.

The economic impact of mad cow disease on the US beef industry

Only one cow among 96 million head of cattle in US was tested positive for mad cow disease in 2004 however because of this disease is able to kill people, there are countries have instituted some form of ban on US beef. This harmed the economic health of US agriculture as a whole apart from export loss. When abnormal returns were aggregated during the course of the events, the price series were adversely affected, mainly after the first case of mad cow disease. Live cattle futures prizes are driven by factors that can, or have the potential to, influence supply and demand of red meat. Demand on red meat drop because of self safety therefore cattle prices deviated from the historical price pattern during the period in which a health event is in evidence.

Life of a person with BSE

Usually for the people who got BSE can no longer has hope in life. The incubation of BSE is estimated may be as long as 20-40years. Unfortunately there are teenagers and young children died of it. So it can occur much more rapidly than previously thought. Before death come, the person life will encounter huge changes. For example, in October 2001, a 34-years old Washington native Peter Putnam started losing his mind. A month after he was infected he is not able to form a complete sentence. His doctor said to his family ¡°just take him home and love him.¡± His tragic death occurred on October 2002. Stephen Churchill was the first in England to die. He got depression and dizziness gave way to a living nightmare of terrifying hallucinations. He too died 12 months later at the age of 19. Then, Peter Hall, 20, who got depression around Christmas in 1994, could not walk, talk or do anything for himself by the next Christmas. The person with BSE will eventually become almost like a disable person as they can be said as paralyzed where they could not walk, stand or do anything normal person does.