Âé¶¹´«Ã½

The legacy of BSE

26 January 2011

We have to remain vigilant so we can act at the first sign of an emerging disease

IN October 1987, that a “mystery brain disease” was killing the UK’s dairy cows. As more cases emerged, farmers noted how were apprehensive and hypersensitive to touch or sound. They were uncoordinated and would kick manically, even though their legs were weak and they had difficulty getting up.

The numbers of animals behaving this way rose inexorably. Within a year or two a new phrase had entered the English language. Mad cow disease gave a name to…

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