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Mad Cow Disease

Name of Source- Time, January 12, 2003

Title of My Report- Mad Cow In The U.S.

Summary-

Mad cow disease, also known as BSE has swept fear over lots of Americans since the first cow in America was detected with the disease on December 23, 2003. It was detected in a 6-year-old cow from Washington State. Since then more then 30 countries are refusing to buy beef from America.

America however is doing little to try and prevent the disease. While other countries, such as Japan and European Union, are testing up to 70% and even 100% of their beef, America is only testing .06%. They did however decide on this. No “downer” cows, cows to sick to walk or the high-risk tissue of cows over 30 to be sold. They also will not let any cow suspected of BSE to be sold until they test it to be negative.

How do cows get BSE? You might ask yourself this question. The cow first gets infected with the disease if it eats any food contaminated with tissue from the nervous system from a diseased cow or sheep. Then the disease spreads. “Prions force proteins to misfold throughout the nervous system and bone marrow, eventually ravaging the brain and crippling the afflicted cow.” Time magazine explains. After that the cow is slaughtered for meat and sent out to be eaten. If the contaminated meat is eaten then they prions could corrupt the human and death could follow.

Time Magazine and CNN took a poll of what Americans was doing since mad cow was discovered in the United States. 7% said, “They have stopped eating red meat all together.” 19% said, “They have reduced, but not eliminated red meat.” 63% said, “They are eating the same amount of red meat as before.” 9% said, “They didn’t eat red meat before and don’t eat it now.”

How might this issue effect me, my family or friends-

This issue could effect anyone around me. If my family, friend, or I eat contaminated beef then they could easily get the disease. I do not know anyone with this disease. My family is eating about the same amount of beef. We are not that worried about mad cow at this time, but we might have to later on in life. Mad cow has currently not spread to Missouri yet, but if it continues to spread throughout the United States and other countries, we could all be in danger of it.