Oh, goodie! A new form of mad cow disease found! Whee!
Research in Italy Turns Up a New Form of Mad Cow Disease: A new form of mad cow disease has been found in Italy, according to a study released yesterday, and scientists believe that it may be the cause of some cases of human brain-wasting disease. While the strain has been found in only two Italian cows, both apparently healthy, scientists in Europe and the United States said it should provide new impetus in Washington for the Department of Agriculture to adopt the more sensitive rapid tests used in Europe because it may not show up in those used in the United States. Along with the Italian study, there have been recent reports of unusual types of mad cow disease in France and Japan, and scientists say the discovery of new forms suggests that many cases of "sporadic" human disease -- by far the most common kind, responsible for about 300 deaths a year in the United States -- are not spontaneous at all, but come from eating animals.
And the test for mad cow used in the US probably doesn't detect it! And the Ag department doesn't want to use the rapid test even though it would take much less time and be more sensitive to variant forms! Isn't that just ever so special of them? Thinking of our health and well-being like that!
The last line of the article is really quite, quite precious, and probably describes the Department of Agriculture attitude, to some extent. After all, they're probably using the less sensitive test because it's less sensitive, and deliberately testing an inadequate number of cattle because universal testing would give answers they don't want to know.
(Why, yes, I am a tad cynical about the Department of Agriculture, the FDA, and their peculiar relationship with the beef industry, these days. Why do you ask?)
Posted by iain at February 17, 2004 01:43 PM
