Jan. 2005: Mad Cow Disease found in Goats

A reminder, or, in case you missed it the first time;

January 28, 2005
Mad cow disease shows up in goat

European scientists have confirmed the first known case of mad cow disease in a goat, the BBC reported Friday.

The animal was first reported Nov. 17 by the World Organization for Animal Health. It represents the first time mad cow disease has been found in a goat in natural settings. The confirmation suggests the deadly agent, known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, may be more widespread than previously thought.

Humans can contract a fatal brain illness from eating meat products contaminated with the mad cow pathogen, but European Commission officials said there is little risk of humans catching the incurable, always fatal disease, because for several years governments have imposed strict rules to keep contaminated animals out of the human food chain.

The WOAH, located in Paris and known by its French initials, OIE, said the goat was slaughtered in France in 2002 when it was 2 1/2 years old.

The goat appeared to be the only infected animal in a herd of 600, but all of the animals have been destroyed.

More than 100 people have died from the human form of BSE, presumably contracted by eating tainted meat.
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*Today, Mad Cow in sheep is called "scrapie."

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