December 24, 2003

Black Christmas for Beef Producers

The first U.S. case of Mad Cow disease has been found in Washington state. Japan, Singapore, and South Korea immediately banned U.S. beef imports. It was only a matter of time before the disease reached the U.S. Let's hope the beef industry prepared for this potentially devastating blow.

Mad Cow is related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease [also here], a devestating neurological disease where 90% of its victims die within one year. Scientists believe both diseases are caused by prions, proteins folded in such a way as to disrupt the brain. There is no known treatment.

As for me, I'll be enjoying some nice beef roast at my family's Christmas dinner.

"First U.S. Mad Cow Case, Buyers Ban Beef Imports"

"USDA Refused to Release Mad Cow Records"